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WATCHING  THE  FISHING-BOATS. -Page   13. 


NELLIE   NEWTON 


PATIEXCE  AND  PERSEYERAXCE. 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE 

AMERICAX    TRACT     SOCIETY, 

23     COnXIIILL,     BOSTOX. 


Eeprinted  from  the  London  Religious  Tract 
Society. 


KOCKWELL    AND    ROLLINS, 

I'KIXTURS  AND  STEREOTYPEKS, 

li'2  Washington  St.,  Boston. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 


.  CHAPTER  11. 
The  dra\^'i>'g  of  the  Seine       •         ...        16 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Accident  ......        38 

CHAPTER  lY. 
Tatiexce         .......         50 

CHAPTER   Y. 
A  NEW  Friend         ......         59 

2052926    , 


IV  CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

PAGE 

A  Night  on  the  Cliffs  ....         73 

CILiPTER  VII. 

Tnu  Rescue 8G 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Old  Job 97 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Nellie's  Surprise  .....        108 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  BiPvThday  Gift         .....       128 


Is^ELLIE   XEWTOT^ 


CHAPTER   I. 

STIiOXXALE. 

fF  yeVe  no  thin'  better  to  do,  Xellie 
Xewton,  may  be  j^e'd  run  down  to  the 
/^Y  shore,  and  look  out  for  the  boats' 
%  comin'  in,  and  it's  just  as  like  as  not 
I  may  find  a  dab  or  two  for  ye  by  and 
by,"  said  a  big,  brawny  woman,  coming 
out  of  a  cottage  door,  and  speaking  to  a 
little  girl  who  happened  to  be  passing  at 
the  moment.  "I've  a  sight  o'  shrimps  an' 
prawns  here  must  be  seen  to,  so  you  let 
mc  know  time  enough  to  go  down,  like  a 
good  lass." 

"I  will,  if  mother  don't  want  me,  Mrs. 
Xeale,  and  tell  you  the   very  minute  the 


G  KELLIE  NEWTON. 

boats  come  round  the  Head.  I'll  go  and 
see,  and  if  I  can't  be  spared,  I'll  let  you 
know,"  she  called  back,  as  she  ran  ofl'. 
Mrs.  Xeale  stood,  with  arms  a-kimbo, 
looking  after  the  child,  until  she  saw  her 
dart  out  of  her  mother's  cottage  again,  as 
fast  as  she  had  entered  it,  and,  pointing 
towards  the  beach,  disappear  down  the 
rocky  pathway  which  led  to  it. 

Nellie  Newton's  native  place,  which  we 
will  call  Stronnale,  was  a  small  fishing 
hamlet,  lying  picturesquely  between  the 
hisfh  chalk  cliffs  which  stood  out  on  either 
side  of  a  sheltered  bay,  on  the  south-west 
coast  of  England.  The  chief  trade  of 
this  little  place,  in  days  gone  by,  was  car- 
ried on  mainly  l^y  the  smugglers,  who 
made  that  rugged  coast  their  stronghold, 
and  of  whose  daring  exploits  and  cunning 
stratagems  there  is  many  an  exciting  talc 
yet  told  in  that  country  side. 


smoxxALE,  7 

Stronnale  Head  is  now  surmounted, 
however,  by  the  flag-staff  of  the  coast- 
guard station,  and  the  present  inhabitants 
of  the  cottao-es  are  a  noble  race  of  men, 
not  less  hardy  and  brave  than  their  fore- 
fathers, thou2'h  en2:a£>'ed  in  a  lawful  and 
peaceable  calling.  A  deep  opening  or 
cleft  in  the  rocks  formed  a  natui-al  path 
upwards  from  the  beach,  which  gradually 
widened  out  into  a  steep  roadway,  bounded 
on  either  side  by  rough  pitching,  with  here 
and  there  a  paving-stone,  before  the  row 
of  humble  dwellings  which  formed  the 
entire  village.  There  was  a  rude  quaint- 
ness  and  rough  irregularity  about  the  nar- 
row street  upon  which  the  gray,  weather- 
beaten  church  tower  had  looked  down  for 
many  a  generation,  which  seemed  to  have 
imparted  some  of  these  characteristics  to 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people 
who  were  born  and  bred  there.     A  clear, 


8  NELLIE  KEWTOy. 

sparkling  stream  gurgled  over  the  uneven 
stones  of  the  channel  which  kept  it  within 
hounds,  as,  running  doAvn  one  side  of  the 
street,  and  turning  a  mill-wheel  on  the 
cliff,  it  fell  headlong  over  its  rugged  face, 
and,  sinking  into  the  shingle,  mingled,  at 
length,  its  fresh  waters  with  the  ocean. 
There  could  he  no  question  as  to  the  trade 
carried  on  at  Stronnale,  as  more  thai/  one 
sense  could  testify,  for  nets  were  liung 
outside  the  cottage  doors,  and  split  fish 
were  dried  upon  nails  fastened  to  the  wall, 
and  fisher  lads  lounged  ahout  in  their  blue 
guernsej^s,  and,  above  all,  the  very  air 
itself  was  fishy. 

In  days  gone  by,  the  occupation  of  the 
women,  which  was  tliat  of  lace-making, 
would  doubtless  have  called  forth  the  dis- 
approbation of  many  good  people,  for  even 
George  Herbert  advised  that  girls  should 
not  be  taught  it,  calling  it  a  "  vain  trade  ;  " 


STTiOXXALE.  9 

but  no  one  finds  any  fault  nowadays  with 
the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  fishermen, 
who,  while  the  boats  are  away  upon  the 
sea,  sit  in  groups  before  their  doors  through 
the  lono^  eveninirs,  chattiu^*  and  laus^hinsr, 
as  they  work  busily  at  the  pillow  on  theii* 
knees.  A  few,  however,  like  Mrs.  Nealc, 
were  fish-women,  and  made  it  their  busi- 
ness to  attend  all  the  auctions  on  the  beach, 
on  the  arrival  of  the  boats,  bargaining  for 
the  fish,  which  they  afterwards  carried  in 
panniers  on  donkej'-back,  for  sale  round 
the  country  for  miles. 

One  little  shop  was  all  Stronuale  could 
boast,  and  a  stranire  medlev  of  articles 
could  be  obtained  there,  as  might  well  be 
supposed;  and  though,  it  is  true,  the  tal- 
low candles  did  not  improve  the  taste  of 
the  bacon  they  hung  by,  nor  did  the  tea 
become  any  the  1>etter  for  a  mingled  flavor 
of  yellow  soap  and  red  herrings,  imparled 


10  IsELLIE  NEWTON. 

to  it  by  their  close  quarters,  still  *'tlie 
shop  "  had  its  convenient  aspect  as  well, 
for  there  was  no  other  within  three  miles 
at  least.  Good  house-keepers,  neverthe- 
less, generally  managed  to  purchase  their 
stores  at  Waterton,  a  thriving,  bustling 
little  town  a  few  miles  to  eastward,  on  the 
coast. 

Nellie  Newton's  mother  was  a  lace- 
worker,  and  though  not  a  first-rate  hand, 
still  contrived  to  eke  o  ut  a  scanty  living  by 
her  earnings,  with  the  addition  of  a  day's 
work  now  and  then  at  one  of  the  neigh- 
boring farm-houses,  on  any  occasional  em- 
ployment that  offered.  She  was  a  widow, 
having  lost  her  good,  brave  husband  and 
two  well-s^rown  sons  in  one  of  the  fearful 
storms  which  so  often  sweep  our  shores, 
carrying  sorrow  and  death  into  many  a 
poor  fisherman's  home.  Five  little  ones 
were  left  to  her,  for  whose  daily  bread  she 


STltOXXALE.  11 

toiled  aud  struggled,  and  hard  work  it  was 
to  fill  so  many  hungry  mouths ;  hut  though 
poor,  all  who  knew  her  respected  Mrs. 
Newton,  and  it  was  her  great  aim,  with 
God's  help,  to  bring  up  her  children  in 
right  and  honest  w^ays. 

Xellie,  the  eldest  girl,  was  not  quite 
nine  years  old  at  the  time  our  story  begins  ; 
but,  thoughtful  beyond  her  years,  she 
already  desired  to  become  her  mother's 
little  helper,  and  longed  for  the  time  Aviien 
she  would  be  able,  by  her  own  earnings, 
to  add  to  the  contents  of  the  worn  leather 
purse,  which,  as  she  well  knew,  was  too 
often  empty.  We  shall  see  in  the  course 
of  the  following  pages,  how  far  she  was 
successful  in  surmountino'  the  difficulties 
that  lay  in  her  path,  by  "  patient  continu- 
ance in  well-doing,"  in  humble  dependence 
on  Him  who  has  promised  to  make  his 
strength  perfect  in  his  children's  weakness. 


12  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

When  Nellie  reached  the  beach  on  Mrs. 
Nealc's  errand,  she  found  her  brothers, 
Jacob  and  Bill,  there  before  her,  and,  de- 
lighted to  have  their  companionship,  con- 
trived to  make  herself  very  happy  in  build- 
ing up  roimd  towers  and  castles  with  the 
smooth  pebbles,  vying  with  each  other  as 
to  who  should  raise  the  highest  in  defiance 
of  the  advancing  tide,  until  Jacob,  in  all 
the  dignity  of  his  eleven  j^ears,  getting 
tired  of  such  child's  play,  clambered  up 
into  a  boat,  that  he  might  keep  better  look- 
out upon  the  sea.  The  boy's  great  ambi- 
tion had  lono'  been  to  wear  a  blue  «:uern- 
sey,  and  sou'-wester,  and  to  be  a  fisher-lad 
like  others  of  his  own  age  in  the  village ; 
but  his  mother,  remembering  the  two  who 
already  slept  beneath  the  waves,  would 
not  hear  of  it ;  and  for  the  present,  though 
sorely  against  his  will,  he  remained  at 
school. 


STnOXXALE.  13 

"Here  they  be,  Xcll ;  here  they  be!" 
he  cried  at  last,  waviug  his  hand,  and 
pointing  out  to  seaward,  in  the  direction 
of  the  Head.  "  You'd  best  run  up  and  tell 
Mrs.  Xealc  right  away,  for  she  always  likes 
to  be  the  first  when  any  thing's  goin'." 

Xellie  sped  away  like  a  bird  with  her 
tidings,  while  the  boats  came  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  dropped  anchor  one  by  one 
within  the  shelter  of  the  little  cove.  Mrs. 
Xeale  and  one  or  two  others  were  barely 
able  to  reach  the  shore  before  the  brown 
sails  had  been  all  hauled  in,  and  a  small 
])oat  landed  the  lobster  pots  which  the  fii'st 
contained.  One  of  the  fishermen,  all  of 
whom  were  wearv  enousrh  after  their  nin^ht's 
toil,  proceeded  to  spread  out  a  well-worn 
Int  of  taipaulin  upon  the  shingle  ;  and  on 
this,  in  a  few  moments,  some  twenty  or 
thirty  lobsters  and  crabs,  of  all  agjes  and 
sL^es,  were  yainly  clawing  and  struggling 


14  NELLIE  NEWTOy. 

against  their  untimely  fate.  Not  the  bright 
red  lobsters  of  the  fishmongers'  shops,  but 
speckled  and  dingy  bluish-black  fellows, 
with  nippers  opening  and  shutting  in  angry- 
defiance,  and  long  antenn86  waving  vicious- 
ly, enough  to  deter  those  from  meddling 
with  them  who  are  unaccustomed  to  such 
hostile  demonstrations.  The  sprawling 
crabs,  too,  made  desperate  but  iucfi'ectiial 
efforts  to  turn  over  and  slide  slyly  back 
into  their  native  element,  as  the  tide  came 
curling  in  over  the  shingle,  leaving  bits  of 
red  sea-weed  and  wrack  and  bright  wet 
stones  not  far  from  them.  But  alas  for  the 
poor  captives  when  once  Mrs.  Neale's 
knowing  glance  rested  upon  them,  or 
Nancy  Bidgway's,  or  old  John  Cotter's,  for 
in  five  minutes  they  were  all  disposed  of, 
and  safely  stowed  away  to  make  room  for 
the  next  lot  the  men  were  bringing  up 
from  the  boats. 


STnOXXALE.  15 

Mrs.  Xcale,  as  good  as  her  Tvord,  found 
some  fish  for  Xellie,  who  ran  home  with 
her  prize,  quite  proud  of  having  earned  a 
dinner  for  that  day  at  least ;  and  very  soon 
after  the  beach  was  deserted  by  all,  save 
the  sea-gull  which  wheeled  overhead,  or 
found  a  resting-place  in  the  lonely,  weath- 
er-beaten cliiTs  about  the  bay. 


CHAPTER   n. 

THE   DEAWIXG    OF    THE    SEIXE. 

WOOT)ER,  NelHc,"  said  Mrs.  Xew- 
ton  one  day,  "if  ye're  fit  to  be  trusted 
to  go  into  the  town,  and  do  my  mar- 
^    keting.     I've  a  deal  to  busy  me  to- 
day, and  'twould    be    a  real  help.      But 
there,  ye're  sueh  a  child,  I  don't  think  I 
dare  send  you." 

"Oh  do,  do,  mother!"  cried  Xcllie, 
with  sparkling  eyes  ;  "I'm  sure  I  could  go 
for  you.  Why,  Rachel  Enticott  goes 
every  week  for  her  mother,  and  Hannah 
Gosling,  and  ever  so  many  more  !  " 

"Ay,"  said  Mrs.  Newton,  "and  what 
did  I  hear  t'other  day  about  Rachel  Enti- 

IG 


THE  DBA  WING    OF  THE  SEIXE.  17 

cott,  — that  she  lost  a  crown-piece  for  her 
mother;  but  there,  I've  uo  crown-piece  for 
you  to  lose,  so  take  your  bonnet,  and  the 
basket,  and  I'll  send  you  this  time ;  but 
mind  you  don't  forget  any  thing  you'ye 
ii'one  after." 

*'Xo,  that. I  won't,  mother,"  cried  the 
child,  quite  proud  to  be  of  some  use  ;  "111 
make  haste,  and  be  home  again  in  no  time, 
and  bring  every  thing  back  safe,  if  you'll 
tell  me  what  you  want."  So  Xellie  was 
despatched  to  ^Vaterton  with  sundry 
errands,  and  she  set  off  as  flist  as  her  little 
legs  could  cany  her,  feeling  a  very  impor- 
tant person  indeed,  with  her  mother's  big 
marketing  basket  on  her  arm.  She  had 
not  gone  very  flir,  however,  before  Jacob 
met  her.  "Holloa  !  "  said  he,  "  why,  Xell, 
^vhere  are  you  off  to  ?  " 

"  I'm  going  to  the  town  to  do  mother's 
shopping,"  said  XcUic,  posting  on,  for  she 
remembered  her  promise  not  to  loiter. 


18  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

"  I  say,  stop  a  bit,"  said  Jacol3  ;  *^  what 
are  you  in  such  a  hurry  for  ?  I  think  I'll 
come  too.     I've  got  nothing  better  to  do." 

"  Yery  well,"  said  Nell,  "  but  you  mustn't 
hinder  me  ; "  and  the  two  went  on  together. 

Nellie  was  in  high  spirits,  and  when 
they  neared  Waterton,  she  began  to  count 
up  her  errands  on  her  fingers,  to  make 
sure  of  forgetting  none.  The  shopping 
took  some  time,  but  at  last  all  was  finished, 
and  tea  and  sugar  and  butter,  and  a  host 
of  smaller  packets,  were  stowed  safely 
away  in  the  basket,  before  they  set  out  on 
their  homeward  trudge.  "That's  a  good 
girl,"  said  Mr.  Gould,  the  grocer  (w^ho 
was  a  good-natured  man,  and  had  a  num- 
ber of  little  ones  of  his  own) ,  as  he  helped 
her  to  pack  them  all  in ;  "  now  make  haste 
liome  to  mother,  and  here's  a  handful  of 
raisins  for  you  and  Jacob  there."  Nellie 
thanked  him,  with  her  best  courtesy,  and 


THE  DUAiriXG   OF  THE  SEIXE,  19 

liiirriecl  out  to  look  for  Jacob,  who  had 
ah'cady  left  the  shop.  She  fouud  hmi  out- 
side, talking  to  a  group  of  lads  iu  the 
street,  and  giving  his  sleeve  a  tug,  dis- 
played her  raisins.  "I  say,  Xell,  how  did 
you  come  by  'em?  "  said  he. 

"Mr.  Gould  gave  'em  to  me,"  saidXel- 
lie  ;  "  but,  Jacob,  give  me  a  hand  with  the 
basket ;  it's  a'most  too  heavy  for  me  to 
carry." 

"Come  along,  then,"  said  Jacob,  for  the 
raisins  had  coaxed  him  into  an  oblinins: 
humor ;  "  but,  I  say,  look  at  'em  all  a-run- 
ning  down  to  the  beach  !  I  do  believe 
there's  fish  in  the  bay ;  let's  go  down  and 
see." 

"  I'd  a'  like  to,"  said  Xellic,  "  but  it's  out 
of  our  way  a  good  l)it,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Oh,  never  mind  that,"  replied  he  ;  "  it'll 
be  such  fun,  and  111  help  you  home  with 
the  things." 


20  KELLIE  XEWTOX. 

It  certainly  was  a  great  attraction  to  a 
iishermaji's  childrcu,  and  it  always  is  a 
pleasant  sight  to  see  the  liberal  reward  of 
dangerous  toil.  But  Nellie  had  promised 
her  mother  not  to  loiter,  and  the  thought 
of  this  crossed  her  mind ;  but  she  said, 
"Sure,  mother  wouldn't  mind  their  seeing 
the  seine  drawn ;  and  may  be  they'd  get  a 
few  little  fish,  if  the  haul  was  good." 

So,  forgetting  how  easily  harm  may  hap- 
pen when  one  is  not  strictly  careful,  away 
went  the  children  with  the  rest  to  the 
shore.  True  enough,  the  mackerel  were 
in  the  bay,  and  a  pretty  sight  it  was.  The 
long  rays  of  the  afternoon  sun  glinted 
across  the  sea,  which  was  very  smooth, 
and  only  betrayed  the  presence  of  the 
shoal  by  a  peculiar  ripple,  which,  though 
hardly  to  be  noticed  by  a  chance  observer, 
every  fisherman  knows  well. 

On  the   beach  all  was  excitement  and 


THE  Dr.AjnSG  OF  THE  SEiyE.  21 

commotion,  for  already  a  crovrd  had  col- 
lected, awaiting  the  boats  which  were  now 
returning  to  land,  bringing  in  the  seine,  or 
large  draw-net,  which  is  used  in  shoal 
jQshing.  To  this  very  mode  of  fishing  our 
blessed  Saviour  made  reference  in  his  par- 
able of  the  draw-net,  which  from  its  large 
size  encircles  the  whole  shoal  within  it, 
and  gathers  all  kinds  of  fish,  "  both  bad 
and  good."  This,  when  it  was  full,  men 
drew  to  shore,  and  sat  down  and  gathered 
the  good  into  vessels,  but  cast  the  bad 
away ;  so  now,  as  soon  as  our  fishermen 
catch  sight  of  the  mackerel,  they  row  out, 
dropping  the  net  around  them,  which, 
beinsr  weia'hted  with  lead,  falls  to  the  bot- 
tom  of  the  sea,  while  on  the  surface  it 
is  supported  with  corks,  and  then  the  ends 
are  dragged  towards  the  shore,  where  it 
is  soon  hauled  up  by  numbers  of  willing 
hands,  each  of  vrhom  claims  a  share  of  the 


22  KELLIE  XElFTOy. 

contents,  in  return  for  the  assistance  ren- 
dered. Sometimes  the  "  takes  "  of  fish  in 
this  way  are  very  frequent  and  exceedingly 
large,  but  the  season  of  which  we  speak 
had  been  an  unusually  bad  one,  and  this 
was  the  first  time  the  mackerel  had  appeared 
in  the  bay ;  hence,  on  this  occasion,  there 
was  even  more  interest  manifested  than 
usual. 

"Hurrah!"  cried  Jacob,  "we're  Justin 
time  to  see  the  seine  drawn ;  I  thought  as 
much.  Oh,  that's  capital !  "  Jacob  only 
shared  the  general  feeling  of  joy,  for  a 
good  haul  of  mackerel  or  herrings  is  the 
fisherman's  harvest,  upon  which  ho  depends 
for  his  daily  bread,  as  much  as  the  farmer 
does  on  the  yellow  sheaves  of  wheat  and 
barley  which  ripen  on  our  fields  and  up- 
lands ;  nor  must  we  forget  that  it  is  the 
same  good  hand  of  God,  which  has  so 
abundantly  replenished  the  waters  for  our 


THE  DnAWING  OF  THE  SEIXE.  23 

use,  that  also  clothes  the  earth  iu  its  goldcu 
robe  of  harvest.  Surely,  we  may  well 
say,  "  O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy 
works  !  Iu  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them 
all ;  the  earth  is  full  of  thy  riches.  So  is 
this  great  and  wide  sea,  wherein  are  things 
creeping  iimumerable,  both  small  and 
great." 

Groups  of  people  were  standing  about 
near  the  point  for  which  the  boats  were 
maldng,  and  as  they  were  still  a  good  way 
out,  the  children  wandered  some  little  dis- 
tance along  the  beach.  The  tide  was  com- 
ing in,  and  they  went  so  close  to  the  edge 
that  the  water  splashed  over  their  feet, 
when,  to  their  surprise  and  delight,  a 
stronger  wave  than  usual  threw  up  a  quan- 
tity of  tiny  glittering  fish,  which  quivered 
and  leaped  upon  the  shingle,  as  the  retreat- 
ing wave  left  them,  high  and  dry,  out  of 
their  natural  element;  and  at  almost  the 

2* 


24  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

same  moment  a  silveiy  line  along  the  shore 
showed  that  numbers  more  had  been 
stranded.  Here,  then,  was  the  cause  of 
the  shoal  of  mackerel  in  the  bay,  a  large 
portion  of  which  was  at  that  very  time  in- 
closed in  the  bag  of  the  great  net,  which 
was  fast  being  drawn  in.  They  had  ven- 
tured close  in  shore,  driving  the  sprats 
before  them  into  shallow  water,  which  then 
fell  an  easy  spoil  to  their  stronger  com- 
rades of  the  sea;  and  as  the  children 
scanned  the  water  more  narrowly,  they 
could  see  the  bright  hues  of  the  larger  fish, 
mingled  with  the  silvery  whiteness  of  their 
tiny  prey,  which  they  pursued  Avith  the 
greatest  eagerness,  while  they  themselves 
were  falling  unwitting  victims  to  their  own 
voracity. 

"Oh,  Jacob,"  — "Oh,  Nell,"  cried  both 
at  once,  "only  see  the  sprats!  What  a 
lot  we  can  pick  up  ;  and  won't  mother  bo 
glad!" 


THE  DEA  WIXG   OF  THE  SEINE.  25 

"Yes,"  said  Nellie,  as  she  gatlicred  them 
into  her  pinafore,  as  fast  as  the  little  slip- 
pery fish  would  let  her;  "but  wherever 
shall  we  put  'cm  all !  I  can't  carry  manj^ 
like  this." 

"Didn't  mother  put  a  cloth  in  the  basket," 
said  Jacob,  "that  we  could  take?  That 
would  hold  a  good  lot." 

"So  she  did,"  answered  Nellie;  "Td 
quite  forgot ;  "  and  setting  the  basket  on 
the  ground,  she  hastily  pulled  it  out,  and 
in  doing  so,  displaced  a  good  many  of  the 
packages.  It  took  some  minutes  to  re- 
arrange them,  and  by  the  time  they  had 
picked  up  enough  of  the  sprats,  which 
tempted  them  on  further  and  further  at 
every  step,  they  had  gone  some  way  from 
Waterton. 

"  Holloa  ! "  cried  Jacob  at  last,  looking 
in  the  direction  of  the  town,  "they've 
brought  in  the  seine,  and  we'll  be  too  late, 
if  we  don't  hurry." 


26  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

"But,  Jacob,  whatever  shall  we  do  with 
the  basket  now  ?  It'll  be  too  heavy  to  take 
it  all  the  waj^  back,  with  the  sjarats  be- 
sides." 

In  Xellie's  secret  heart  there  was  a  strug- 
gle going  on  between  duty  and  inclination. 
She  felt  she  ought  to  hasten  home  with  her 
mother's  goods,  as  she  had  promised;  but 
then  the  seine  and  the  mackerel  and  the 
auction,  —  how  much  she  would  miss  if  she 
did  not  return ;  besides,  Jacob  woidd  cer- 
tainly go  without  her ;  and  Duty's  voice 
waxed  fainter  and  fainter,  as  Inclination 
gained  an  easy  victory.  Jacob,  meanwhile, 
looked  puzzled,  but  he  was  only  thinking 
how  best  to  dispose  of  the  basket.  "  I'll 
tell  you  what,"  said  he,  at  length,  as  a  bright 
idea  struck  him,  "we'll  hide  it  np  there, 
mider  the  cliif ;  there's  no  one  a-passing,  so 
that  it'll  be  quite  safe,  while  we  run  back 
and  look  at  the  haul." 


TRE  DRAWIXG  OF  THE  SEIXE.  27 

It  was  uo  sooner  said  than  it  was  done  ; 
and  having  managed  to  secure  their  treas- 
ures pretty  efieetually  amongst  the  bram- 
bles which  trailed  in  wild  luxuriance  under 
the  rocks,  they  hastened  back  to  the  town. 
The  seine  had  been  emptied,  by  basketful 
after  basketful,  of  many-colored,  glittering 
mackerel,  and  on  the  beach  lay  a  goodly 
heap,  which  the  fishermen  were  busily  en- 
gaged in  sorting  from  the  John  Dorys,  red 
mullet,  conger  eels,  and  other  fish,  which, 
having  been  found  in  company  with  the 
hungry  shoal,  had  been  taken  in  the  same 
net.  The  beautiful  chanoinor  tints  of  the 
fish  were  touched  with  a  deeper  glow  by 
the  last  beams  of  the  evening  sun,  liow 
rapidly  sinking  behind  the  clifi',  which 
made  their  hues  more  lovely  still,  and 
lighted  up  the  eager  faces  of  the  men  and 
women  who  stood  around,  awaiting  the 
sale  by  auction,  which  always  takes  place 


28  NELLIE  XEWTOy. 

Oil  such  occasions.  The  time  passed  quick- 
ly, as  the  children  lingered  amongst  the 
crowd. 

"  It's  a  famous  haul,  John  Cotter,"  said  a 
fish-woman,  close  to  Nellie. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  said  the  old  man ;  "thousands, 
more  or  less,  I'll  be  bound  —  and  more 
where  these  come  from.  Holloa,  young- 
sters," added  he,  suddenly  spying  Jacob 
and  Nellie,  "  you  here,  this  time  of  the  day  ? 
If  ye  take  my  advice,  ye'll  make  the  best 
o'  your  ways  home,  for  it's  gettin'  late,  and 
your  mother  '11  be  on  the  lookout  for  'ee." 

"All  right,"  said  Jacob.  "Good  even- 
ing, Mr.  Cotter ;  come  along,  Nell ;  we  may 
as  well  be  going." 

They  soon  reached  the  spot  where  the 
basket  was,  and  dragging  it  out  of  its 
hiding-place,  trudged  along  the  wearisome 
shingle  towards  home. 

The  shortest  way  to  Stronnale  was  Ijy  a 


THE  nnjiriycr  of  the  setxe,  20 

very  steep  ascent  up  the  side  of  the  clilT, 
which  was  much  overgi'OTvn  at  this  spot 
"with  a  tangled  mass  of  scnibljy  blackthorn 
and  brambles ;  then  turning  to  the  left,  it 
wound  along  the  coast-guard's  path  at.  a 
giddy  height  above  the  sea,  until  a  sudden 
dip  brought  the  foot-passenger  into  the 
villas^e.  It  was  hard  work  to  climb  with 
their  load,  and  Jacob  went  first,  holding 
one  handle,  while  Nellie,  with  her  bundle 
of  sprats  on  her  arm,  came  behind,  trying 
hard  to  take  her  share  of  the  weight. 

"  Oh,  what  a  bother  the  basket  is  !  "  said 
Jacob,  after  they  had  gone  a  few  steps  ;  "so 
heavy  as  it  is,  too  !  Let's  see  if  we  can't 
carry  it  easier  somehow,"  and  he  dived  his 
hand  into  his  pocket  for  a  piece  of  strong 
twine.  "There,  I  thou^rht  I  had  somethinsc 
that  would  soon  settle  that  business,"  add- 
ed he,  brinninGT  out  a  bit  of  old  cord  ;  "so 
here  goes."  He  tied  it  iirmlv  to  one  handle. 


80  KELLTE  XEJFTOy. 

and  lioistin^^  it  over  his  shoulder,  went  on 
lip  the  cliff;  but  by  this  plan  poor  little 
Kellie  had  the  worst  of  the  bargain,  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  burden  fell  back  upon 
her.  She  toiled  manfully  on,  until  at 
Icnirth  her  stren<2rth  was  fast  failin*?. 

"  Oh,  Jacob,  don't  'ee  go  on  so  fast, 
don't !  It's  ever  so  much  heavier  for  me 
now,  and  I  can't  keep  up,"  said  she,  pant- 
ing for  breath. 

"  Oh,  what  a  bother  it  is ! "  said  Jacob 
again,  giving  an  impatient  tug,  when,  all 
at  once,  snap  went  the  cord,  aAvay  went 
sugar  and  butter  and  tea,  bump,  bump, 
bump  doAvn  the  cliff,  with  the  basket 
helter-skelter  after  them ;  while  poor  Nel- 
lie, upset  by  the  sudden  shock,  found  her- 
self lodged  m  the  middle  jof  a  furze-bush, 
grovring  close  to  the  path,  which  probably 
saved  her  from  a  much  worse  tuml)lc. 

Jacob  stood  aghast  witli  open  mouth  at 


THE  DUAJTIXG   OF  THE  SEIXE,  31 

lliG  mischief  he  had  caused,  and  Xelllo 
burst  into  tears  as  she  picked  herself  up. 

"Oh!  eTacob,  Jacob,  whatever  shall  we 
do  ?  The  things  are  all  tumbled  out  of  the 
basket,  and  they'll  all  be  spoilt.  Oh  !  dear, 
dear,  what  will  mother  say  ?  " 

"Pm  sure  I  can't  tell,"  said  the  boy; 
"but  there,  don't  take  on  so,  Xell ;  let's  see 
if  we  can  pick  'em  up  again." 

"Oh,  I  w4sh  you'd  never  a'thought  on 
that  nasty  string,  that  I  do  ! "  said  she, 
sobbing. 

"Well,"  said  Jacob,  beginning  to  wdiim- 
per  too,  "  I'm  sure  it  an't  my  fault  it  broke. 
It's  as  much  your  doin's  as  mine,  for  you 
let  go ;  but  there,  what's  the  use  o'  cry- 
ing,"—  restraining  his  own  tears  with  an 
efFoi-t,  —  "let's  see  what's  to  be  done." 
"With  heavy  hearts  they  retraced  their 
steps ;  but,  alas  !  alas  I  the  remains  were 
scarcely  worth  picking  up.    The  sugar  was 


82  .        NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

all  scattered  about,  the  tea  was  sown  broad- 
cast over  the  cliff,  and  the  butter  they 
found  at  last  in  the  middle  of  a  clay  pud- 
dle, at  the  foot  of  the  rocks. 

The  children  looked  at  each  other  in 
mute  dismay,  and  were  so  absorbed  in  their 
troubles,  that  they  did  not  hear  a  light  foot- 
step behind  them,  nor  discover  that  they 
were  not  alone,  until  a  hand  was  laid  on 
Nellie's  shoulder,  and  a  kind  voice  asked, 
"  What's  the  matter,  my  little  gu'l  ?  You 
seem  to  be  very  unhappy." 

Nellie's  tears  broke  out  afresh,  and  the 
lady  turned  to  Jacob  for  an  explanation. 
He,  in  his  turn,  looked  very  sheepish,  and 
began  scraping  the  shingle  with  his  foot. 

"Please,  ma'am,  weVe  been  and  spilt 
mother's  things." 

"  But  what  were  you  doing,  my  boy  ?  " 

"  Only  a-going  up  the  path,"  said  Jacob. 

"  "Was  it  an  accident  then,  or  how  did  it 
happen?"  asked  the  lady. 


THE  DRAWiya   OF  THE  SEIXE.  33 

"Please,  ma'am,"  said  Nellie,  getting  the 
better  of  her  tears,  "  we  were  going  home 
with  mother's  basket  full  of  things,  and 
Jacob  tied  a  string  to  it  —  and  it  broke  — 
and  I  fell  amoni?  the  bushes  —  and  it's  all 
spoilt  —  and,  oh  dear  !  "  she  added,  with  a 
fidtering  voice,  "whatever  shall  we  do?" 

"And  what  is  this  you  have  here,  my 
dear?" 

"  It's  sprats,  ma'am,  that  we've  just  pick- 
ed up  on  the  shore,"  and  Nellie  untied  the 
cloth. 

"And  so  you  were  sent  to  do  your 
mother's  vshopping  for  her  ?  —  but  what  is 
her  name,  for  you  have  not  told  me?" 

"  She's  widow  Newton,  as  lives  at  Stron- 
nale,"  said  Jacob,  taking  courage. 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  said  the  lady ;  "  so  you 
are  Mrs.  NcAvton's  children,  are  you?  Well 
my  dear,"  added  she,  turning  to  Nellie, 
"  I  know  your  mother,  and  you  may  tell 


34  KLLLIE  XElVTOy. 

her  that  Miss  Laiigton  is  coming  to  see  her 
to-morrow ;  but  stay,  I  think  I  should  like 
to  have  some  of  your  sprats,  if  you  will 
give  me  a  few  in  this  little  basket." 

"Oh  yes,  ma'am,"  said  IN^ellie,  with  a 
smile  on  her  tearful  face ;  and  putting 
some  nice  fresh  grass  at  the  bottom,  she 
laid  in  the  sprats,  one  by  one,  and  quite  at 
the  top  slipped  in  a  small  mackerel,  which 
both  the  children  had  considered  a  prize  a 
little  while  before. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Miss  Langion.  "Now 
will  you  carry  this  half-crown  home  safely 
to  your  mother,  and  tell  her  that  I  paid  for 
the  fish  with  it?  and  I  hope,"  she  added 
with  a  smile,  as  she  wished  the  children 
good-by,  "that  you  will  meet  no  further 
mishaps  by  the  way." 

They  both  thanked  the  kind  lady  as  well 
as  they  could,  and  then  hastened  home. 

"Vv^ell,"  said  Mrs.  Newton,  when    she 


THE  DnAWIXG   OF  THE  SEIXE.  o<} 

heard  their  story,  "I  cau't  he  angry  with 
ye,  for  'twas  an  accident,  though  ye  had  no 
business  to  loiter;  but  indeed,  children, 
'tis  a  loss  I  could  ill  a'  borne  ;  and  I'm  very 
thankful  to  the  lady  for  her  kindness.  Ay,"' 
she  added,  reverently,  as  a  tear  started  to 
her  eye,  "and  to  the  God  of  the  fatherless 
and  the  widow,  who  put  it  into  her  heart 
to  doit ;  for  evervirood  s^ift  comes  from  him. 
I  do  believe  he'll  never  leave  nor  forsake 
them  that  put  tlieir  trust  in  him  ;  but,  Xel- 
lie,  let  this  be  a  caution  to  ye,  my  lass,  to 
be  doubly  careful  in  the  future  ;  for,  mind, 
we  can't  expect  always  to  meet  with  kind 
friends  —  leastways  when  it's  our  own 
wrong:  doin's  as  brins;  the  trouble." 

"And  oh  !  mother,"  said  Xellie,  present- 
ly, "I  did  mean  to  be  such  a  help  to  you, 
and  now  I'm  afraid  you'll  never  trust  mo 
again." 

"Xay,    child,"    replied    Mrs.    Xewtou, 


36  KELLIE  KEWTOy. 

"3^011  arc  but  young  yet,  and  may  bo  tliis'll 
be  a  lesson  to  make  ye  more  cautious  for 
the  time  to  come,  as  I  said  before.  Any- 
how ye  know  now  it  an't  always  so  easy  to 
do  right  as  it  seems  to  be  ;  but  you  keep 
straight  on  in  the  good  way,  and,  with 
God's  help,  I  hope,  one  day  ye'll  be  fit  to 
be  trusted-  with  greater  things  than  my 
Saturday  marketings." 

Jacob,  who  stood  by,  listening  to  her 
words,  looked  rather  uncomfortable,  for  he 
remembered  that  he  had  induced  Nellie  to 
remain  longer  on  the  beach  than  she  wished, 
and,  moreover,  that  it  was  his  impatient 
tug  at  the  luckless  cord  which  had  really 
caused  the  disaster. 

"Mother,"  said  he,  hanging  his  head, — 
for  thoughtless  though  he  might  be,  he  was 
neither  imtruthful  nor  ungenerous, — "it 
wasn't  Nell's  fault,  that  it  wasn't.  'Twas 
all  along  o'  that  old  rope  I  tied  to  the 


THE  DliAJVIXG   OF  THE  SEISE.  37 

basket  to  get  it  up  the  clifT,  or  'twould 
never  a'  been." 

"Well,  Jacob,  I'm  glad  you're  not  the 
one  to  let  the  blame  rest  where  it  shouldn't ; 
but  we'll  all  have  to  suffer  for  it,  for  'tis  but 
a  poor  supper  we'll  have  to-night.  But 
there,  I'll  cook  some  o'  the  sprats  for  ye, 
and  w^e'll  say  no  more  about  it." 

It  was,  perhaps,  a  trifling  incident  in  it- 
self, but  Xellie  never  forgot,  when  she  was 
tempted  to  idle  instead  of  patiently  perse- 
vering in  her  appointed  work,  that  even- 
ing's adventure  with  Jacob  \\]}  Stronnalo 
cM\ 


CHAPTER    m. 

TIIE   ACCIDENT. 

IISS  LxlXGTOX  kept  her  promise, 
and   T\'hen  she    came    next    day, 

^^^  Mrs.  Xewton  thanked  her  very 
gratefully  for  her  kindness. 

"  How  have  you  been  getting  on  since  I 
saw  3'ou  last,  Mrs.  ISTewton?"  said  she. 

"Well,  ma'am,  jiretty  middling,  at  times, 
and  then  again  it  goes  hard  with  us ;  but 
I've  no  need  to  complain,  for  we've  never 
yet  wanted  bread,  and  I  trust  the  Lord  vrill 
l^rovide." 

"  And  are  you  able  to  send  the  children 
to  school  regularly  ?  " 

"Jacob  and  the  three  little  ones  go, 
ma'am,  but  I'm  forced  to  keep  Nellie  at 

88 


THE  ACCJDLXT.  oU 

home,  for  she's  able  to  help  me  a  good  bit 
now,  and  it  takes  more  nor  I  can  spare  to 
send  'cm  all." 

"I  supi^ose  you  can  read,  however,  Xel- 
lie?"  said  uMiss  Langton,  turning  to  the 
child. 

^' Yes,  ma'am,"  answered  Xellie. 

"AVell,  then,"  said  the  lady,  taking  a 
little  book  out  of  the  bag  in  her  hand,  "let 
me  hear  if  you  can  read  this."  Xellie 
blushed  very  much,  but  did  as  she  was 
told,  and  ]Miss  Langton  was  so  pleased 
that  she  gave  her  the  book  for  her  o\\ti. 
"  Do  you  think  you  could  spare  your  little 
girl  to  come  to  me  twice  a  week  for  a  les- 
son, Mrs.  Xe^^i:on?  I  intend  remaining 
here  for  some  months,  and  it  seems  a  pity 
she  should  forget  all  her  schooling.  Per- 
haps by  that  time  you  may  be  able  to  send 
her  again." 

"I'm  sure,  maam,  3'ou're  very  kind :  I 


40  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

could  spare  her  well  enough,  if  you're  so 
good  as  to  take  the  trouble,"  replied  her 
mother. 

"Yerywell,  then,  Nellie,  come  up  to- 
morrow morning,  and  I  will  see  on  what 
days  I  can  have  you  most  conveniently," 
and  after  a  little  more  kind  and  pleasant 
conversation,  Miss  Langton  took  her  leave. 
And  so  it  came  about  that  every  Tuesday 
and  Friday  morning,  for  two  or  three  sum- 
mers, Nellie  trotted  off  to  kind  Miss  Lang- 
ton's  house,  who  taught  her  many  useful 
things ;  but  above  all,  she  read  the  Bible 
with  her,  and  explained  it  so  simply  and 
clearly  that  she  soon  learned  to  like  that 
part  of  her  lesson  best. 

Nellie  Newton  was  an  intelligent  child, 
as  Miss  Langton  quickly  discovered.  Her 
mother,  being  a  superior  woman  for  her 
station  in  life,  had  alwa3^s  endeavored  to 
train  her  children  carefully,  and  to  shield 


THE  AC  C IB  EXT.  41 

them  as  much  as  possible  from  evil  influ- 
ences. They  were  all,  therefore,  more 
mannerly  than  most  of  their  companions  ; 
but  it  was  iu  Nellie  that  the  effects  of  her 
care  could  be  traced  more  particularly. 
Her  kind  friend  was  so  pleased  with  her 
progress  that,  when  she  was  about  twelve 
years  old,  she  had  a  scheme  in  her  mind 
for  placing  her  little  scholar  with  Miss  New- 
man, the  school-mistress  at  Stronnale,  as  a 
pupil  teacher,  when  she  herself  left  the 
neighborhood  that  autumn,  thinking  that 
by  this  means  Nellie  might  become  iu  time 
veiy  useful  and  influential  for  good,  as  well 
as  a  great  comfort  and  assistance  to  her 
mother.  But  it  is  much  more  easj'  for  us 
to  make  plans  for  the  future  than  to  carry 
them  out ;  for  truly  "  we  know  not  what  a 
day,"  or  even  a  single  houi',  "may  bring 
forth." 
It  was  haying  time,  and  one  delicious 

3* 


42  K EL  LIE  XEWTOX. 

cvcnins;,  T\'hcn  half  the  yilla2:c  had  turned 
out  into  the  fields,  ]Mrs.  Xewton  gave  Nel- 
lie leave  to  take  the  little  ones  —  Esther, 
Mercy,  and  Bill  —  for  a  romp  amongst  the 
hay-cocks.  Off  went  the  children,  as  mer- 
rily as  possible,  and  as  they  were  passing 
farmer  Trott's  yard,  they  met  Job  Mutter, 
the  carter,  coming  out  vvith  the  empty 
wagon. 

"  Oh,  Job,  do  let  us  have  a  ride,  do  ! " 
cried  the  children,  running  up  to  him. 
Job  was  a  good-natured  old  man,  as  one 
could  see  by  the  twinkle  of  his  gray  eye 
when  he  said,  "  Don't  know  as  I  shall : 
what  can  3'oungsters  like  3'ou  want  a  ride 
for,  I"d  a  like  to  know?" 

"  Oh  yes,  you  will.  Job  ;  you  know  you 
always  do  ;  "  and  sturdy  little  Bill  caught 
hold  of  the  tail-board  of  the  Vv'agou,  as 
though  his  feeble  arm  could  check  the 
great  strong  horses. 


THE  AC  C  ID  EXT.  43 

"Xow  tlieu,  have  a  care  little  uu  —  well, 
I  s'pose  I  must  let  'ee  this  time,"  said  Job, 
as  he  lifted  them  in.  "There  now,  don't 
'ee  bother  me  any  more,  but  bide  still  like 
good  children." 

On  went  the  wagon  over  the  rough 
stones,  past  the  church,  up  the  lane  into 
the  field,  while  the  sweet  scent  of  the  hay 
was  Vv^afted  to  them  on  the  evening  ah'. 
Every  thing  seemed  beautiful  and  bright 
and  joyous,  and  the  childi-en's  voices 
sounded  cheerful  and  pleasant  as  they 
shouted  in  their  glee,  when  a  crack  of  the 
whip  caused  the  horses  to  turn  too  sharply 
up  the  steep  hill-side,  and  in  a  moment, 
before  Job  could  stop  them,  the  wagon  was 
upset.  It  might  happen  twenty  times  on 
those  rugged  hills,  and  little  harm  be  done, 
and  so  Job  hoped  it  might  be  now ;  but 
when  a  moan  of  irreat  sufierin<?  fell  on  his 
car,  as  he  hastened  to  the  children's  aid, 


44  NELLIE  NEWT02T. 

his  worst  fears  were  aroused,  and  he  called 
to  the  haj-makers  in  the  field  to  come  to  his 
help.  Quickly  they  righted  the  overturn- 
ed wagon,  and  there  lay  poor  Nellie,  al- 
most insensible,  with  her  leg  dreadfully 
crushed  between  the  great  broad  wheel  and 
a  bit  of  rock,  which  cropped  out  at  that 
particular  spot.  The  little  ones,  more 
frightened  than  hurt,  croAvded  round,  cry- 
ing bitterly  as  they  listened  to  her  low 
moans,  and  many  an  exclamation  of  sorrow 
and  sympathy  was  uttered  by  those  who 
tenderly  lifted  the  suffering  child  from  the 
ground,  to  place  her  on  the  hurdle  which 
had  been  hastily  brought  from  a  sheepfold 
near  at  hand.  Very  gently  they  carried 
her  back  to  the  village,  followed  by  the 
crowd,  which  quickly  gathers  on  such  oc- 
casions, for  Nellie  was  a  favorite  with  them 
all ;  but  at  the  first  movement  she  fainted 


THE  ACCIDEXT.  45 

quite  aTvay,  and  remained  uuconscious  for 
a  long  time. 

Tidings  of  the  accident  had  already 
reached  ]\Irs.  Xewton  when  the  mournful 
procession,  with  the  still  and  apparently 
lifeless  form  of  little  Xellie,  arrived  at  her 
door. 

"  She's  killed  —  she's  dead  !  —  my  little 
lass  is  dead  ! "  cried  the  poor  mother  in  an 
ai^fonv  of  £rrief,  as  they  brousfht  her  in. 

"Xo,  no!  my  good  woman,"  said  the 
doctor,  who  was  fortunately  near  the  spot 
at  the  moment,  "not  so  bad  as  all  that,  let 
us  hope.  Xow,  my  friends,"  added  he, 
turnins:  to  the  well-meanino^  but  officious 
nciirhbors  who  were  crowdinsr  after  him 
into  the  little  room,  "the  greatest  kindness 
you  can  do  is  to  give  the  poor  child  plenty 
of  air ;  and  if  some  of  you  could  take 
these  little  ones,  and  keep  them  out  of  the 
way,  while  I  see   what's   to    ])e  done,   it 


4:Q  XELLIE  NEWTOy. 

might  be  of  some  real  use  ;  "  saying  vrliicli, 
he  turned  them  all,  without  further  cere- 
mony, out  of  the  cottage — all  but  Job,  who 
had  quietly  taken  up  his  station  at  the  foot 
of  the  bed  where  they  had  laid  little  Nell, 
looking  the -picture  of  woe,  and  saying 
over  and  over  again  to  himself,  while  the 
tears  ran  dov,ai  his  furrowed  cheeks,  "  Poor 
little  lass  I  poor  little  lass  !  and  it's  been 
all  my  doin's.  I'd  a'  give  my  right  hand, 
if  it  hadn't  a'  happened." 

Alas  !  alas  !  it  was  a  terrible  crush  ;  and, 
after  a  careful  examination,  Dr.  Goodo- 
nough  was  obliged  to  tell  the  poor  woman 
that  he  feared  it  would  be  impossible  to 
save  the  injured  limb. 

"Oh,  sir,"  cried  Mrs.  Kewton,  "can't 
you  do  nothing  to  save  it  ?  —  must  it  really 
be  taken  off?  My  poor,  poor  child'll  be  a 
cripple  for  life  !  " 

"  Better   so    than    lose   her   altoo-ctlier, 


TTIE  ACCIDEXT.  47 

tboiigli,"  replied  the  doctor.  "But  how- 
ever, I  shall  be  more  able  to  judge  to-mor- 
row, and,  in  the  mean  time,  not  a  word  of 
this  to  the  child.  In  her  present  state  I 
could  not  answer  for  the  consequences ; 
and  it  would  be  only  cruel  to  alarm  her, 
when  she  need  know  nothing  of  it  until  it 
is  over." 

A  slioiit  movement  told  that  Nellie  misfht 
be  returning  to  consciousness,  and,  putting 
his  finger  to  his  lips  to  enjoin  silence,  he 
bent  again  over  the  child. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  what's  happened  ?  "  she 
feebly  whispered,  and  then,  as  she  became 
sensiljle  to  the  intense  pain,  she  closed  her 
eyes  again  with  a  shudder  of  recollection. 

"There,  my  little  girl,  we  shall  do  very 
well  now,  only  you  must  lie  quite  still,  and 
try  to  bear  the  pain  as  patiently  as  you  can," 
said  the  kind-hearted  doctor.  The  strange 
voice  roused   her  aijain,  and  she    looked 


48  NELLIE  NEWT  OX. 

round,  evidently  seeking  her  mother. 
"Mother,"  she  said  faintly,  "mother,  where 
arc  3'ou?     Were  the  children  hurt?" 

"jSTo,  no,"  answered  the  doctor  again, 
seeing  Mrs.  Newton  was  much  agitated, 
and  speaking  for  her.  "There's  no  one 
hurt  but  yourself,  my  poor  child ,  and  we'll 
soon  have  you  well  again,  I  hope  ;  but  noAV 
you  must  talk  no  more.  Do  you  give  her 
the  medicine  according  to  my  directions, 
Mrs.  Newton ;  and  be  sure  she's  kept  very 
quiet.  I'll  look  in  again  b}'  and  by,  to  see 
how  she's  going  on." 

"  Oh  !  mother,"  said  Nellie  again,  as  soon 
as  he  had  gone,  "  the  pain  is  very  bad ;  but 
God  will  help  me  to  bear  it.  You  ask  him, 
mother,  to  give  me  patience." 

It  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  the  little  suf- 
ferer, so  gentle  and  resigned  ;  and  poor  old 
Job,  who,  for  a  long  time   could  not  be 


THE  ACCinrxT.  49 

persiiadec!  to  leave  her,  learned  a  lesson 
that  night  of  submission  to  the  will  of  God, 
which  he  never  forgot.  It  was  the  good 
seed  of  Miss  Langlon's  teaching,  bearing 
fruit  in  the  hour  of  Xellie's  trial. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

PATIENCE. 


(^: 


^^HE  morrow  came,  and  with  it  tlio 
^^^  doctor,  who  fomid  no  reason  to 
Wfs    ^Iter  his  opinion  that  it  was  neces- 

S  saiy  for  poor  Xeliie  to  lose  her 
limb.  It  would  be  needless  for  us  to  dwell 
on  the  j)ainful  details  of  the  operation. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  that  under  the  influence 
of  chloroform,  that  great  boon  which  God 
has  bestowed  to  lessen  the  agonies  of  hun- 
dreds of  poor  sufferers  in  similar  circum- 
stances, it  was  performed  without  the  slight- 
est consciousness  on  the  part  of  the  little 
patient,  who  was  thus  spared  all  the  torture 
of  anticipation,  and  the  actual  pain. 

When   she  awoke,    it   was    some   time 

50 


PATIEXCE.  51 

before  she  could  evcu  believe  it  was  over, 
for,  curiously  enough,  the  sensation  of  the 
injured  foot  and  ancle  remained  long  after 
the  limb  was  removed.  But  Xcllie's  trial 
was  not  over.  It  was  some  weeks  before 
she  could  move  from  one  position,  and 
much  pain  and  weakness  attended  her  slow 
and  tedious  recovery.  During  this  weary 
time,  her  kind  friend.  Miss  Langton,  came 
to  see  her  very  constantly,  and  often 
brought  nice  books  and  pictures  for  her 
amusement. 

"  Oh,  mother,"  she  said  one  day  when 
another  lady  sent  her  a  beautiful  basket  of 
fruit,  ''  how  good  God  is  to  put  it  into  their 
hearts  to  be  so  kind  to  me  ! " 

But  Xellie  was  not  always  patient.  The 
long  confinement  to  bed  became  very  irk- 
some to  her,  and  she  was  often  u-ritable 
and  cross ;  for  we  all  have  the  bitter  root 
of  sin  lying  deep  down  in  our  hearts,  one 


52  NELLIE  XETFTOy. 

sad  result  of  which  is  pain  and  suffering ; 
and  it  is  only  through  constant  Tvatchfuhicss 
and  lighting  against  it,  that  God  by  the 
grace  of  his  Holy  Spirit  enables  us  to  over- 
come, in  any  degree,  the  evil  within.  ^Ve 
should  watch  and  pray  at  all  times,  and 
look  to  Jesus  as  our  best  example  of  pa- 
tient endurance  of  sorrow  and  grief.  It 
will  never  entirely  cease  to  trouble  us  until 
we  are  called  to  his  glorious  home  above, 
where  nothinsf  that  is  sinful  can  enter. 

The  cottage  was  small,  and  it  was  diffi- 
cult for  the  little  ones  always  to  bear  in 
mind  that  poor  Nellie  was  hardly  able  to 
endure  the  noise  of  then-  healthy  play,  es- 
pecially when  it  constantly  reminded  her 
that  she  could  never  again  hope  to  join  in 
their  merry  games. 

"  I  wonder  you  can't  remember  that  such 
a  noise  always  makes  my  head  ache,"  she 
said  once,  peevishly,     "It's  very  well  for 


PATIEXCE.  53 

you  "vvlio  can  run  about  and  enjoy  your- 
selves, while  I  have  to  lie  here  day  after  day 
— be  quiet,  do  !  "  Her  conscience  smote  her 
for  her  impatience  a  moment  after,  when 
Esther,  who  was  a  sweet-tempered  child, 
ran  up  to  her,  saying,  "  Oh,  Nell,  I'm  sor- 
ry ;  I  didn't  mean  to  make  your  head  ache ; " 
and  when  the  romps  presently  became  as 
boisterous  as  ever,  she  checked  the  hasty 
vrords  which  were  rising  to  her  lips.  Poor 
little  Xell !  it  was  hard  discipline  for  one 
so  young ;  but  trials  are  never  sent  without 
some  wise  and  good  purpose,  though  often 
we  cannot  see  the  "need  be,"  when  our 
cherished  plans  are  all  broken  up. 

Patience  was  the  one  great  lesson  which 
Xellie  learned  durmg  her  illness.  It  was 
not  alwaj's  easy  to  be  patient,  —  far  from  it, 
—  for  by  nature  our  hearts  are  ever  fretting 
against  that  which  crosses  our  wayward 
vrills,  and   Nellie   found   it   so ;    but   the 


54  NELLIE   KEWTOX. 

^YGarisome  clays  and  long  nights  of  pain, 
^vllilc  she  lay  on  her  sick-bed,  were  God's 
way  of  teaching  her ;  and  though  it  was 
very  hard  at  the  time,  yet  in  after  days  she 
could  look  back  and  say,  "  It  is  good  for 
me  that  I  have  been  afflicted." 

One  day  she  was  thinking  of  her  crip- 
pled state,  when  Miss  Langton  came  in, 
who  immediately  noticed  the  troubled  look 
of  the  little  wan  face,  and  determined  to 
find  out  the  cause. 

"  When  does  the  doctor  think  you  may 
begin  to  get  about  again,  Nellie?" 

"  He  says  it  will  not  be  long  now,  ma'am, 
if  I  go  on  as  well  as  I  am  at  present," 
answered  Nellie. 

"  That  will  be  a  pleasant  change  for  you, 
after  lying  still  so  long ; "  but  Nellie  did 
not  reply,  and  large  tears  gathered  slowly 
in  her  eyes.  She  was  thinking  hoiu  chang- 
ed every  thing  would  be 


PATIENCE,  55 

along  the  shore  with  Jacob ;  no  more 
races  down  the  hill-side  with  the  mcny 
healthy  village  children  .  for  her  —  and,- 
above  all,  no  more  hope  of  going  to  ser- 
vice, and  coming  home  now  and  then,  to 
lay  the  carefully-treasurcd-up  wages  in  her 
mother's  lap. 

"It  will  bo  a  trial,  ioo^  in  some  respects, 
my  child,"  Miss  Langton  went  on ;  "  but 
try  and  look  at  the  bright  side  as  t\-g11. 
IIow  mercifully  your  life  has  been  spared ; 
and  then,  how  much  you  may  yet  be  able 
to  do  for  yom^  mother,  even  though  it  is 
God's  will  that  you  should  be  lame." 

"Oh  !  ma'am,"  replied  Xellie,  "how  can 
that  be  ?  Yrho  would  ever  employ  a  poor 
cripple  like  me  ?  I  shall  be  nothing  but  a 
trouble  and  burden  to  i3oor  mother,  all  my 
days!" 

"Xay,  Xellie,"  3'ou  speak  now  without 
thinking,  my  child,"  said  ]\Iiss  Langton. 


56  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

"How  many  occupations  there  are  which 
your  lameness  Avill  never  interfere  with  — 
lace-making  for  iiistance.  If  you  had  lost 
your  right  arm  now,  how  much  more  diffi- 
cult it  would  have  been  to  find  ways  of 
employment  for  you  !  " 

"I  never  thought  of  that,"  said  Nellie. 
"  Oh,  I'm  afraid  I've  been  very  wicked,  and 
forgetful  of  God's  goodness  to  me.  I'm 
sure,  ma'am,  I  never  can  thank  you  enough 
for  all  3'ou've  taught  me." 

"Well,  Nellie,  do  you  remember  the 
circumstance  which  led  to  our  acquaint- 
ance ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Nellie,  smiling;  "how 
often  I've  thought  of  it  since  !  It  seems  so 
long  ago,  now  !  " 

"  You  were  in  trouble  then,  great  trouble 
it  seemed  to  you  at  the  time  —  and  yet 
good  has  come  out  of  it,  Nellie." 

"Indeed   it  has,   ma'am,"   she   replied, 


PATIENCE.  57 

earnestly ;  "  I  never  knew  how  much  I 
owed  to  you  until  I  came  to  lie  here.  It 
was  you  who  first  showed  me  my  need  of 
forgiveness,  and  taught  me  to  know  and 
love  my  Saviour.  Oh,  how  can  I  ever 
thank  you ! " 

"  It  was  the  Holy  Spirit's  teaching,  my 
dear  Xellie,  not  mine,"  said  Miss  Langton, 
much  touched ;  "  but  I  was  going  to  say, 
how  often  things  which  seem  in  themselves 
to  be  only  evil,  are  made  to  be  the  very 
links  in  the  chain  of  God's  providence  to 
bring  about  some  great  good.  You  remem- 
ber the  verse,  ^All  things  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God,'  and  so  it 
may  be  now.  The  day  Avill  come,  I  have 
no  doubt,  when  you  vrill  be  able  to  thank 
God  for  this  very  trial,  which  now  seems 
so  heav}\" 

Nellie  was  much  comforted  b}'  Miss 
Langton's  visit,  and  after   she  was   gone 


58  KELLIE  NEWTOX. 

she  took  up  her  little  Bible,  which  always 
lay  by  her  side,  aucl  looked  out  some  of 
the  texts  which  referred  to  the  subject  they 
had  beeu  talking  about. 

"  The  trying  of  your  faith  worketh  pa- 
tience," she  said  to  herself — "yes,  that 
must  be  what  God  is  teaching  me  —  a  les- 
son of  patience."  Looking  upwards,  with 
her  hands  clasped  in  silent  prayer,  she 
asked  for  the  Holy  Spirit's  help  to  enable 
her  to  submit  to  God's  will,  whatever  that 
might  be,  with  a  ready  heart ;  and  to  be 
gentle  and  patient  to  all  around  her,  so 
that  she  might  be  like  Jesus.  And  when 
her  mother  returned  —  for  she  had  been 
absent  durin£>"  JMiss  Lansfton's  visit  —  Nel- 
lie  was  able  to  greet  her  with  a  bright, 
happy  smile,  which  told  of  the  peace  with- 
in —  the  answer  to  her  prayer. 


,  J  '"'^  ) 


CHxVPTER  Y. 

A  KEW   FEIEXD. 

EYERAL  years  passed  after  Nel- 
lie's accideut,  and  brought  with 
them  few  changes  to  the  XewtoDS. 
^  It  was  not  now,  however,  such  a 
struggle  with  them  for  daily  bread ;  for 
Nellie,  who  was  fast  growing  up  into 
womanhood,  was  able  to  earn  something 
by  her  iace-making,  and,  in  spite  of  her 
lameness,  was  her  mother's  right  hand  and 
greatest  comfort.  Jacob  had  regular  em- 
ployment on  board  a  Brixham  fishing 
smack  (for  he  had,  at  leng-th,  gained  his 
point  with  his  mother),  and  only  came 
home  now  and  then.  Esther  had  obtained 
a  nm*sery-maid's    place  in  a  gentleman's 

4*  59 


CO  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

flimily  at  Waiertpn,  aud  gave  fair  promise 
of  doing  well ;  while  Mercy  and  Bill  still 
went  to  school  every  day,  though,  as  their 
mother  told  them,  it  would  soon  be  time 
for  them  to  seek  work  as  well  as  the  rest. 
There  was  an  air  of  greater  comfort,  too, 
about  the  cottage  than  formerly  ;  in  short, 
by  dint  of  good  management  and  strict 
honesty,  they  all  seemed  to  be  working 
their  way  up  towards  prosperity. 

Miss  Langton  still  came,  year  after  year, 
to  spend  the  summer  months  by  the  sea, 
and  never  lost  the  kind  interest  she  had 
taken  in  the  family  from  the  time  of  their 
first  acquaintance.  Old  Job  jMutter  was 
by  this  time  getting  on  in  years,  and  the 
infirmities  of  age  were  fast  creeping  upon 
him.  It  was  but  little  he  could  do  now  in 
the  way  of  work.  "  Ah  !  "  he  would  say  in 
his  south  country  dialect,  "  toime  were 
when  oi  could  do  a  day's  turn  v\^i'  th'  best 


A  NEW  FBIEND,  61 

on  *em;  but,  neow,  measter,  lio  says  oi 
beant  worth  a  zaxpence  a  day,  an'  it  do 
coom  hard  to  oi,  that  it  do  —  but  there, 
moi  ould  b^Yuns  do  yeake  so,  I  s'pose  oi 
mun  be  gettin'  past  it  loike  —  seame  as 
ould  Dobbin  up  in  th'  Barumead  there  I " 
Job  lived  all  by  himself,  for  he  had  neither 
kith  nor  kin  in  the  place  to  care  for  him. 
From  the  time  of  the  accident  he  seemed 
to  attach  himself  particularly  to  jSTellie,  who 
in  her  turn  was  able  to  do  him  many  a 
little  act  of  womanly  kindness,  Avhich 
helped  to  make  his  solitary  life  less  lonely 
and  cheerless. 

As  soon  as  Nellie  had  sufficiently  recov- 
ered from  her  illness,  she  had  set  herself 
diligently  to  work  to  learn  lace-making. 
It  was  by  no  means  the  employment  she 
would  have  chosen  for  herself,  for  formerly 
she  had  always  been  active,  and  fond  of 
bustling  about,  even  to  restlessness,  and 


62  NELLIE  KEWTOy. 

had  disliked  beyond  measure  any  occnpa- 
tion,  such  as  needle-work,  which  obliged 
her  to  keep  still.  Now  that  her  infirmity 
made  it  necessary,  she  did  not  find  it  less 
irksome  to  be  forced  to  sit  quietly,  bending 
over  the  fine  threads  which  needed  such 
careful  handling  and  keen  sight,  until  her 
eyes  grew  weary  and  her  shoulders  ached 
with  her  task.  But  Xellie  felt  it  was  to  be 
her  appointed  work ;  no  other  seemed  to 
ofier,  and  she  determined,  with  God's  help, 
to  overcome  the  aversion  she  felt  to  it,  and 
to  surmount,  by  patient  labor,  every  diffi- 
culty in  her  path.  Others  were  able  to 
earn  enough  by  the  trade  to  add  considera- 
bly to  the  comfort  of  their  homes  ;  and  she 
resolved  that  whatever  her  hand  found  to 
do,  she  would  do  it  with  her  might.  Very 
soon  she  excelled  her  mother,  for  Mrs. 
Newton  had  begun  to  learn  later  in  life, 
when  her  fingers  were  too  stifl:'  easily  to 


A  xrir  FLiEXD..  C3 

acquire  the  nimble  movements  of  a  skillful 
lace-maker ;  and  before  many  months  had 
passed,  Xellie  bade  fair  to  become  a  first- 
rate  hand,  and  understood  all  the  mys- 
teries of  the  art,  including  the  button-hole 
stitch  or  raised  work,  \Yhich  is  the  most 
intricate,  and  most  costlj  when  made. 
Greater  likin^r  for  her  work  came  with 
increased  aptitude  for  it,  and  she  wondered 
then  how  it  could  ever  have  been  so  dis- 
tasteful to  her. 

It  was  much  lousier  before  she  could  feel 
quite  submissive  vrith  regard  to  the  other 
aspect  of  her  trial.  How  she  longed, 
sometimes,  when  she  saw  other  young 
people  of  her  own  age  enjoying  the  free 
use  of  their  limbs,  to  be  able  to  fling  aside 
her  crutches,  and  join  them  in  their  walks 
and  amusements.  But  that  would  never 
be  again,  and  often  rebellious  thoughts 
would  come  into  her  heart,  and  repining 


64  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

words  rise  to  her  lips,  until  she  remem- 
bered ichose  hand  bad  sent  that  pai-ticular 
trial  to  her ;  and  tben  she  would  pray  for 
grace  to  bear  in  mind  our  Saviour's  words, 
"In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls." 
Strength  came  in  answer  to  her  prayer, 
and  Nellie  Xewton  learned  the  blessedness, 
at  length,  of  having  no  other  will  in  her 
affliction  than  the  will  of  God.  Patiently, 
therefore,  she  strove  to  take  up  her  daily 
cross  ;  and  the  tune  came  when  one  could 
not  have  wished  to  see  a  more  cheerful, 
contented  expression  than  that  which 
rested  habitually  on  lame  Nellie's  gentle 
foce. 

In  a  year  or  two  Nellie  became  a  design- 
er of  new  patterns  for  her  lace,  as  the  more 
skillful  workers  often  do.  In  this  manner 
her  natural  taste  developed  itself;  and 
while  it  rendered  her  labor  more  interest- 
ing, it  gave  her  an  object  for  seeking  oat 


A  NEW  Fr.IEXD.  05 

of  doors  the  fern-leaves  and  wild  flowers 
with  which  the  beautiful  Devonshire  lanes 
and  hedge-rows  abound ;  and  by  degi'ees 
she  learned  to  see  a  wondrous  beauty  in 
God's  book  of  nature,  which  she  had  never 
even  suspected  before. 

One  summer  day,  when  Kellie  was  in 
her  fifteenth  year,  Stronnale  was  astonished 
by  the  somewhat  unwonted  sight  of  a  gen- 
tleman walking  do^^^l  the  steep  village 
street.  Little  children  playing  in  the  road 
stopped  to  stare  ;  heads  were  thrust  out  of 
cottage  doors,  and  all  eyes  followed  the 
stranger,  who  little  knew  the  excitement 
his  presence  had  created.  "What  could 
bring  him  to  Stronnale  ?  "  was  the  question 
on  every  tongue.  "  May  be  'tis  fish  he 
wants,"  thought  Mrs.  Xeale,  as  he  saun- 
tered slowly  on  past  her  door  ;  whereupon 
she  seized  the  chance  of  turning  an  honest 
penny,  by  rushing  out  upon  him  with  tlie 


66  NELLIE  NEWTOy. 

query,  "Any  fish,  to-day,  sir?  fine  fresh 
turbot  and  lobsters ,  crabs  or  whiting  ?  I've 
a  lot  of  prawns,  fresh  boiled,  sir,  as  fine  as 
any  I've  had  this  long  "while :  would  ye 
please  to  look  at  them,  sir?" 

"Not  to-day,  thank  you,"  said  the 
stranger,  without  stopping,  much  to  her 
disappointment ;  and  w^alking  on  down  the 
street,  and  turning  ofi*  to  the  right,  he  soon 
reached  JNIrs.  Newton's  cottage,  where 
Nellie  was  sitting  at  the  door,  busied  as 
usual  with  her  lace-pillow.  "Ah,"  he  said 
to  himself  as  he  made  a  pause  by  the  gate, 
"this  looks  more  like  the  kind  of  thing. 
Can  you  tell  me,  my  good  girl,"  added  he, 
aloud,  "if  I  could  manage  to  get  a  clean 
bedroom  any  where  about  here,  for  a  week 
or  two  ?  " 

"  Vr^on't  you  please  to  walk  in ,  sir  ?  "  said 
Nellie,  rising ;  "  mother's  indoors,  and  she'd 


MK.  RIVEKSDALE. 


A  XEJV  rniEXD.  07 

be  able  to  tell  you  better  tliau  I  can."  The 
a'eutlemau  followed  her  in,  and  ]Mrs.  Xew- 
ton  came  forward,  dusting  a  chair  with  her 
apron,  as  she  said,  ''Did  you  please  to  say 
■\'ou  wanted  a  room  in  the  villai]^e,  sir?" 

"Yes,  if  I  can  find  a  corner  decently 
clean  and  tidy.  I  don't  mind  much  what 
it's  like,  providing  I'm  not  poisoned  with 
the  smell  of  fish  from  morning  till  night. 
You  don't  seem  to  be  doing  any  thing  in 
that  line,"  said  he,  looking  round  the  neat 
cottage  ;  "  don't  you  think  now  you  could 
put  me  up  somewhere  yourself?  " 

Mrs.  Newton  shook  her  head.  "  'Tis  but 
a  poor  place  for  the  likes  o'  you,  sir ;  but 
even  if  you  could  put  up  wi'  it,  I  don't  see 
as  how  we  could  spare  the  room." 

"Mother,"  said  Xellie,  who  was  standing 
In',  "  d'ye  think  old  Job  could  let  the  gen- 
tleman have  a  room  up  at  the  Warren  ?  " 

"Ay,  may  be  he    might  now,"  replied 


68  NELLIE  XEWT02T. 

Mrs.  Ne\^i;on,  "leastways,  farmer  Trott 
could,  for  Job's  only  put  iu  to  keep  the 
place  like.  Ye  see,  sir,  there  an't  many 
rooms  round  here  as  would  be  fit  for  gen- 
tlefolks ;  but  before  the  land  about  these 
parts  came  mto  his  hands — farmer  Trott^s, 
that  is  —  the  AYarren  belonged  to  a  gentle- 
man, and  he  had  this  little  place  built,  so 
that,  now  and  agen,  when  so  be  as  he  liked 
to  come  down  for  a  day's  shoo  tin'  or  sea- 
fishin',  he  might  have  a  roof  to  his  head ; 
and  many's  the  time  he's  spent  days  there, 
and  nio-hts  too  for  the  matter  o'  that." 

o 

"  And  whereabouts  is  the  AYarren  ?  "  said 
Mr.  Eiversdale ;  "  for  it  seems  to  be  the 
very  thing  to  suit  me." 

"  It's  may  be  a  quarter  of  a  mile  further 
on,  over  the  cliff,  sir ;  but  'tis  not  what  it 
used  to  be  now ;  I  doubt  if  there  he's  a 
chair  or  a  table  in  the  place  —  but  there, 


A  XEW  FniEXD.  GO 

farmer  Trott  could  let  ye  have  all  ye  waut 
for  a  week  or  two,  I  dare  say." 

"And  where maj'  farmer  Trott  be  found  ?" 
said  Mr.  Eiversdale ;  "  for  I  suppose  he's 
the  person  to  apply  to  in  the  first 
instance." 

"Xellie,  you  take  your  bonnet  and  show 
the  gentleman  the  way,  will  jq,  like  a  good 
lass,"  said  her  mother.  "  Yon're  welcome, 
I'm  sure,  sir,"  added  Mrs.  Newton,  as  the 
gentleman  apologized  for  the  trouble  he 
was  giving.  "  'Tis  but  a  step,  and  the 
air'll  do  her  good,  poor  lassie  !  " 

Farmer  Trott  was  perfectly  willing  to  let 
the  rooms,  and  Mr.  Eiversdale,  being  quite 
satisfied  with  the  survey  he  made  of  the 
place  and  its  situation,  soon  concluded  the 
bargain.  A  good-sized  kitchen  below,  and 
the  same  space  divided  into  two  small  rooms 
at  the  top  of  the  narrow  stairway,  was  all 
the  accommodation  the  cottage  could  boast, 


70  NELLIE  XElVTOy. 

besides  the  "leau-to,"  occupied  by  old 
Job,  at  the  back  ;  but  a  carpet  for  the  stone 
floor,  with  a  mat  or  two,  and  a  curtain  for 
the  shutterless  window,  soon  transformed 
the  lower  room  into  a  very  decent  parlor ; 
while  a  few  comforts  of  a  like  nature,  in- 
cluding a  small  iron  bedstead,  conveyed 
up-stairs,  made  a  very  tolerable  bedroom 
—  airy  and  clean,  if  not  very  luxurious. 
It  was  arranged  that  Mrs.  Newton  should 
come  up  every  day  to  put  things  straight, 
and  to  act  as  Mr.  Riversdale's  house-keeper, 
so  that  every  difficulty  in  the  way  was 
smoothed  over.  Mrs.  Newton  and  Nellie 
were  not  without  their  simple  curiosit}^  in 
the  matter ;  for  why  could  not  the  gentle- 
man have  taken  a  room  in  Waterton,  where 
gentlefolk  often  went,  and  where  he  might 
have  been  more  suitably  lodged?  "But 
'twas  none  of  their  business,"  as  Mrs.  New- 
ton  very  justly  remarked ;    and   so   Mr. 


A  NEW  FRIEXD.  71 

Eiversdale  quietly  took  up  his  quarters  at 
the  Warreu  without  further  ado. 

"Aud  so,"  said  he  oue  day,  soon  after 
he  came,  ''you  are  Xellie  Xewton,  are 
you?  Well,  it  is  an  odd  thing  I  should 
have  lighted  upon  you  all  down  here,  for 
I've  heard  Miss  Langton  speak  about 
Stronnale  and  lame  Xellie  many  a  time, 
though  it  never  struck  mc  till  now." 

"  Oh,  sir  !"  cried  Xellie,  delighted,  "  do 
you  know  Miss  Langton?" 

"  Well,  Xellie,  I  ought  to  know  some- 
thing of  her,  seeing  that  she's  my  mother's 
only  sister;  and  what's  more,  I'm  called 
after  her,  too,  for  my  name  is  Langton 
Eiversdale  —  and  a  kinder,  better  aunt,  a 
fellow  never  had,"  he  added,  in  his  warm- 
hearted, off-hand  way.  We  may  be  sure 
]Mr.  Eiversdale  did  not  fare  any  the  worse 
after  this  discovery,  for  Mrs.  Xewton  and 
X'ellie,  and  old  Job  himself,  vied  with  each 


72  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

other  to  do  honor  to  their  kind  friend's 
relative ;  though,  for  the  matter  of  that, 
they  soon  liked  the  stranger  so  much  for 
his  own  sake,  that  little  more  was  needed 
to  insure  him",  at  their  hands,  the  best 
treatment  they  knew  how  to  give. 


CHAPTER  Yl. 

A    KEGHT    OX    THE    CLIFFS. 

(fTV^Pv.  EH^ERSDALE   was  an  artist; 

,^i.  1^  and  the  lovely  sea  and  island  views 
<'  of    the    neighborhood,    and    the 

cV^  picturesque  characteristics  of  the 
village  itself,  were  his  great  attractions  to 
Stromiale.  The  cottage  in  which  he  lodged 
was  situated  in  as  sweet  a  nook  as  his  heart 
could  desire,  for  a  thickly  wooded  dip,  or 
opening  in  the  cliff,  led  down  to  a  pebbly 
beach,  which,  however,  twice  in  every 
tweutj'-four  hours  disappeared  entirely 
when  the  waves  rolled  in,  higher  and 
higher,  upon  the  shingle,  till  they  dashed 
over  the  foot  of  the  rock  itself.  The  flat 
ground  at  the  top  was  a  rocky,  rugged  bit 

5  73 


74  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

of  moorland,  where  hiinclrecls  of  rabbits 
had  for  years  found  a  habitation  amongst 
furze  and  heather,  and  the  low  brush-wood 
which  clothed  the  ftice  of  the  cliff.  Far 
down  below,  the  restless  sea  murmured  its 
.never-endins^  sono*  in  the  resoundins:  caves. 

Mr.  Rivcrsdale  loved  his  art,  as  all  true 
painters  do ;  but  that  did  not  prevent  his 
occasionally  throwing  aside  his  palette  and 
his  brushes,  and  exploring  the  country  on 
foot.  Very  often,  too,  he  went  out  in  the 
boats  on  a  fishing  expedition,  and  not  a 
fisherman  in  the  place  but  soon  learned 
to  know  and  like  the  open-hearted,  free- 
spoken  stranger.  In  Xellie  Newton  he 
had  an  especial  interest,  for  her  sensible, 
yet  childish  ways,  and  gentle  manner, 
added  to  her  infirmity,  won  the  good-will 
of  all. 

"  Why,  Xellie,"  said  Mr.  Eiversdale,  one 
day,  when  he  found  her  tracing  a  border 


A  KIGJIT  OX  THE   CLIFFS.  lo 

of  her  favorite  fcru-lcaf  pattern  for  her 
lace-workj  "you  are  doiug  something  in 
uiy  line  !  Eeally  this  is  very  pretty,  and 
quite  artistic,"  he  added,  presently,  after 
having  carefully  examined  the  design ; 
"what  do  you  intend  this  to  be?" 

"I  can't  tell  yet,  sir,"  said  Xellie,  blush- 
ing vrith  pleasure  at  the  praise  ;  "  may  be 
a  handkerchief,  or  a  flounce  for  a  dress, 
more  like  —  if  ever  I  get  one  to  make." 

A  little  sigh  followed  this  speech,  as  if 
such  a  commission  were  quite  beyond  poor 
Xellie's  reach. 

"  Have  you  any  more  of  these  designs  ? " 
asked  Mr.  Eiversdale. 

"  Oh  yes,  sir,"  answered  Xellie,  eagerly ; 

"  would  you  please  to "  and  the  girl 

stopped,  ashamed  of  her  presumption. 

"Would  I  please  to  — what,  Xellie?" 
said  he,  laughing — "  buy  some  of  j^our  lace, 
I  suppose  ?     Well,  I  am  afraid  that's  not 


76  NELLIE  NEWTOy. 

much  in  my  way  just  uow,  but  I  should 
like  to  see  your  designs,  nevertheless." 

"  That's  what  I  meant,  sir,"  said  Nellie, 
quite  pleased ;  and  taking  her  crutches,  she 
went  to  the  old-fashioned  bureau  at  the 
other  side  of  the  cottage,  and  took  out  of  a 
drawer  a  carefully  folded  blue  paper,  which 
contained  all  her  treasures.  Mr.  Eivers- 
dale  was  much  interested  in  the  elegance 
and  correct  beauty  of  the  sprigs,  which  she 
displayed  with  great  pride  against  the  blue 
ground,  and  gave  Nellie  some  useful  hints 
to  help  her  in  improving  her  patterns. 
"Dear  me,  Nellie,  how  heavy  your  lace- 
cushion  is  ! "  said  he,  lifting  it. 

"We  call  it  a  'pilt,'  sir,"  replied  Nellie, 
smiling.  "  'Tis  no  wonder  it's  heavy,  for 
it's  stuffed  with  a  whole  bundle  of  barley 
straw.     For  '  trawl  work,'  *  such  as  I'm 

*  Yard-lace,  which  is  wound  round  and  round  the  pillow 
until  enough  is  made. 


A  XIGHT  OX  THE  CLIFFS.  77 

about  now,  I  couldn't  use  any  other ;  but 
for  sprigs  and  the  like,  I  have  a  smaller 
flat  one." 

"  Show  the  master  the  '  sticks '  as  Jacob 
made  for  ye,  Xcll,  the  last  time  he  was 
home  ;  they're  as  pretty  a  set  as  ever  I  see," 
said  Mrs.  Newton.  Nellie  drew  Mr.  Riv- 
ersdale's  attention  to  the  carving  of  the 
little  wooden  reels  on  which  her  thread 
was  wound.  "The  lads  about  here  often 
make  'em  for  presents,"  continued  Mrs. 
Newton,  "and  cut  the  name,  or  leastways, 
the  first  letters  on  'em ;  and  Nellie  thinks 
a  deal  of  hers,  for  they're  better  than 
common." 

"And  very  pretty  they  are,  too,"  said 
Mr.  Eiversdale.  "Well,  Mrs.  Newton," 
added  he,  at  last,  "I must  be  going  now; 
but  I  hope  some  day  we  shall  hear  of  Nel- 
lie's being  a  famous  lace-maker,  —  and  per- 
haps she  may  have  an  order  for  the  royal 

6* 


78  NELLIE  NEWTON: 

familyj  who  knows  ?  "  Nellie  laughecl,  and 
shook  her  head ;  but  the  few  kind  words 
the  gentleman  had  said  cheered  the  poor 
lame  girl,  and  encouraged  her  to  be  iudus- 
ti"ious  and  persevering  in  her  work.  We 
little  know,  sometimes,  how  much  good 
v/e  may  do  to  those  about  us  by  a  kind 
w^ord  or  thoughtful  action,  trifling  as  it 
may  seem  in  itself. 

The  object  of  'My.  Eiversdale's  visit  to 
Mrs.  Newton  was  to  ask  her  to  have  his 
dinner  ready  by  two  o'clock,  as  he  had 
some  plan  arranged  for  the  afternoon  which 
he  particularly  wished  to  carry  out.  Ac- 
cordingly, she  wont  up  to  the  Warren,  and 
had  everj^  thing  in  readiness  in  good  time, 
knowing  that  Mr.  River sdale  was  very 
punctual  in  his  habits .  Two  o'clock  struck , 
however,  and  no  Mr.  Kiversdale  came ;  — 
an  hour  passed,  and  Mrs.  Newton,  finding 
she  could  vrait  no  longer,  left  full  instruc- 


A  NIGHT  OX   THE   CLIFFS.  id 

tions  with  old  Job,  and  went  home,  prom- 
ising to  come  back  later.  Mrs.  Xewton, 
as  it  happened,  was  detained,  so  she  sent 
Xellie  in  her  stead  to  make  every  thing 
comfortable  as  usual  in  the  evening,  —  but 
still  Mr.  Eiversdale  had  not  made  his 
appearance. 

"Hasn't  he  been  home  to  his  dinner. 
Job?"  saidXellie. 

"  Xoa,  but  he  an't  far  off  now,  I  reckon,'' 
answered  th'e  old  man.  "  Most  like  he's 
met  wi'  a  friend  and  gone  off  wi'  um  or 
summat ;  he'll  be  in  soon,  never  fear." 

"AVell,"  said  Xellie,  "I'll  put  on  the 
kettle  then,  and  ye'll  see  to  it.  Job,  won't 
ye  ?  for  I  can't  wait." 

"Ay,"  said  he  ;  "you  just  set  the  things 
all  ready  afore  ye  go,  and  I'll  see  to  it." 

It  was  a  still,  calm  evening,  and  Xellie 
paused  to  rest  for  a  moment  as  she  went 
home.     Few  sounds  reached  her,  save  the 


80  NELLIE  XEIFTOy. 

low  plasli  of  the  sea  along  the  shore,  and 
the  cry  of  the  gulls,  as  they  skimmed .  the 
blue  water,  or  wheeled  round  the  cliffs  ou 
snowy  wing.  A  light  breeze  seemed  to 
spring  up  suddenly,  and  on  it  was  wafted 
the  clang  of  a  distant  church  clock  strik- 
ing seven ;  and  still  Xellie  lingered  looking 
out  over  the  sea.  The  tall  chffs  hid  the 
little  bay  of  Stronnale,  but  further  off,  she 
could  see  Waterton,  with  its  white  houses 
and  flat  beach,  and  the  great  red  rocks  ris- 
ing up  beyond  it ;  and  further  away  still 
on  the  distant  horizon,  she  could  dimly 
discern  the  hills  of  Portland,  like  a  boat 
keel  upwards,  hardly  distinguishable 
throuHi  the  eveninsf  mist.  A  small  fleet 
of  fishing-boats  standing  out  to  sea,  pre- 
paring to  take  up  their  stations  for  the 
night,  and  the  sheep  cropping  the  fine 
herbage  of  the  cliff  close  at  hand,  with  the 
low-wooded  hills  in  the  backgi'ound,  com- 


A  NIGHT  OX  THE  CLIFFS.  81 

pleted  the  picture.  "All,"  thought  Xellie, 
''  how  thankful  I  should  be  that  God  did 
not  take  away  my  sight,  instead  of  mak- 
ing: me  lame, — what  should  I  have  done 
if  I  had  been  blind  ?  "  Tears  started  to 
her  eyes ;  but  presently  she  began  to 
sing  the  familiar  words  of  a  h}Tnn  she  had 
learned  in  the  Sunday  school :  — 

"Holy,  lioly,  holy,  Lord  God  Almighty! 

All  thy  works  shall  praise  thy  name  in  earth,  and 
sky,  and  sea; 
Holy,  holy,  holy,  merciful  and  mighty, 

God  in  three  persons,  blessed  Trinity !  " 

But  hark  !  —  surely  she  heard  a  cry,  as 
of  some  one  calling  for  help  !  She  paused 
in  her  singing.  Xo  sound  reached  her 
now  but  the  tinkhug  of  the  sheep-bell, 
added  to  the  murmur  of  the  waves.  Could 
it  have  been  only  her  fancy  ?  She  listened 
for  some  time,  strainmg  her  ear  to  catch 
the  faintest  sound  ;  but  no,  —  the  evening 


82  NELLIE  xEirroy. 

breeze  stirred  her  sun-bonnet,  which  had 
fiillen  back  upon  her  shoulders,  but  it  bore 
upon  it  no  call  for  aid.  She  moved  on 
slowly,  listening  as  she  went,  and  once 
airain  she  thou2:ht  she  heard  a  distant 
"Halloo."  "'Tis  only  the  men  on  the 
beach,  getting  out  the  boats,"  she  said  to 
herself,  as  she  hastened  on  towards  home. 

"Well,  Nellie,  lass,  have  you  put  all  to 
rights?"  said  Mrs.  Newton;  "and  I  hope 
you  told  master  how  it  were  I  couldn't 
come  up  myself?  " 

"Mr.  Eiversdale  an't  a'  come  home  yet, 
mother." 

"Not  a'  come  home!"  said  Mrs.  New- 
ton, in  a  tone  of  surprise;  "well,  now, 
that's  strange,  for  he  came  back  agen  to 
tell  me  to  be  sure  and  have  his  dinner 
ready.  What's  kep'  him,  I  wonder?  It 
an't  never  likely  he's  got  into  any  trouble, 
surely  ?  " 


A  XIGHT  OX  THE  CLIFFS.  83 

In  an  instant  Nellie  tliouglit  of  the  ciy 
she  had  heard. 

"  Oh  !  mother,"  she  said,  "  d'je  know  I 
heard  some  one  a'  calling,  I'm  sure  I  did, 
as  I  come  over  the  cliff,  for  I  listened  ever 
so  long,  and  heard  it  twice,  as  plain  as 
could  be,  only  I  thought  most  like  'twere 
the  men  on  the  shore.  It  couldn't  be  him 
a-shoutin'  for  help,  could  it?  " 

"I'm  sure  I  can't  say,  but  I'm  not  easy 
about  it,  for  I've  known  a  many  lose  their 
lives  on  these  cliffs,  in  my  time." 

"What's  best  to  be  done,  mother?" 
said  Xellie.  "  Oh  !  I  do  hope  there's  noth- 
ing wrong ! " 

"TVhy,  child,  don't  ye  shake  so,  —  may 
be  it's  nothing  after  all,  for  there's  no  tell- 
ing what  a  young  man  like  him  might  do, 
when  he's  a  mind  to;  but  there,  —  you 
get  your  supper,  and  I'll  just  step  up  to 


84:  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

the  Warren  by  and  by,  and  sec  if  he's  come 
in  then." 

But  Mr.  Riversdale  had  not  made  his 
appearance  ;  his  dinner  remained  still  un- 
touched, and  even  old  Job  became  restless 
and  uneasy  as  the  shades  of  evening  deep- 
ened into  night,  and  yet  he  did  not  come. 
"But  there,"  he  said,  "I  dunno'  as  there's 
any  use  to  trouble  about  it,  for  there's  no 
sayin'  if  he  an't  out  in  one  o'  th'  bwoats, 
or  summat."  So  Mrs.  Newton  returned 
home,  though  she  could  not  feel  quite  sat- 
isfied; but  then,  what  was  to  be  done? 
The  men  of  the  village  were  almost  all  out, 
and  Job's  suggestion  as  to  the  cause  of  ]\Ir. 
Riversdale's  absence  was  very  probably  the 
true  one,  and  he  would  come  in  with  one 
of  the  fishinof-boats  in  the  mornino:.  It 
seemed  so  likely  that  her  mind  at  length 
became  easier,  and  she  went  to  rest,  with 
few  misgivings  about  his  safety,  after  read- 


A  NIGHT  OX  THE  CLIFFS.  85 

ing  a  chapter  in  the  large  old  Bible  with 
her  children,  as  her  custom  was,  and  com- 
niittiuof  herself  and  them  to  the  care  of 
their  heavenly  Father  during  the  silent 
hours  of  darkness  and  sleep. 


CHAPTEE  Vn. 

THE  RESCUE. 

)0T  so  Nellie,  however.  She  coalcl 
yi^  not  forget  Mr.  Eiversclale's  kincl- 
\^^  ness ;  and  anxiety  lest  he  might 
possibly  have  come  to  some  harm, 
kept  her  awake.  The  short  summer  night 
soon  passed  by,  though  to  her  it  seemed 
long ;  and  with  the  earliest  dawn  she  rose 
softly,  not  wishing  to  awake  her  mother, 
and  went  out  into  the  dewy  morning.  It 
was  still  hardly  light,  when,  taking  the 
pathway  along  the  top  of  the  cliff,  she  went 
towards  the  Warren.  JSTothing  was  stir- 
ring save  the  sea-birds,  already  busy  in 
seeking  food  for  their  young;  but  the 
morning  had  not  yet  thoroughly  aroused 


THE  RESCUE.  87 

the  inlial3itants  of  the  hedgerows  and  fields, 
for  as  she  passed  a  low,  tangled  patch  of 
furze,  a  blackbuTl,  alarmed  by  the  sound 
of  her  crutches,  suddenly  flew  out,  start- 
ling her  with  its  loud,  sharp  cry,  and  im- 
mediately the  twittering  on  every  side 
denoted  a  general  reawakening  to  the  bus- 
iness and  cares  of  the  day. 

The  cottage  at  the  Warren  was  closed, 
and  Xellie,  looking  in  at  the  window  of 
the  lower  room,  saw  every  thing  exactly 
as  she  had  left  it  the  evening  before,  and 
Mr.  Eivei'sdale  had  evidently  been  absent 
all  night.  Sick  at  heart  with  fear  lest 
their  misgivings  might  be  all  too  well 
founded,  she  turned  away  from  the  cot- 
tage, and  wandered  along  the  edge  of  the 
cliff.  "  Oh,"  she  thought,  «  if  I  could  but 
hear  that  cry  now,  may  be  I  might  find 
him.  I  wish  we'd  tried  to  look  last  night ;  " 
for  she  could  not  dispossess  her  mind  of 


88  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

the  idea  that  it  was  Mr.  Riversclale's  voice 
after  all  that  she  had  heard.  On  and  on 
she  walked,  until  almost  exhausted,  for  the 
crutches  always  wearied  her,  and  she  was 
faint  for  want  of  food,  and  now  was  fain 
to  sit  down  and  rest.  "It's  no  use,"  she 
said  to  herself.  "  I  might  a'  thought  I  could 
do  no  good.  Only  if  I  could  but  hear  him 
call  again,  may  be  I  might  get  help." 

Every  thing  was  wide  awake  now ;  the 
wild  flowers  which  hung  their  heads, 
crowned  with  the  heavy  dew,  were  begin- 
ning to  look  up  again  as  the  sunbeams 
kissed  away  the  drops ;  and  the  clover  un- 
folded its  triple  leaves  in  the  bright  morn- 
ing light.  Blue  smoke  curled  up  from 
many  a  distant  farm-house  and  outlying 
hamlet,  and  busy  sounds  of  life  reached 
I^ellie  as  she  sat  on  the  bank,  not  caring 
to  turn  back  after  her  fruitless  walk,  and 
equally  uncertain  about  going  further.     "  I 


THE  JIESCUE.  89 

suppose  I'd  best  go  home,"  she  thought,  at 
last ;  and  rising  rather  reluctantly,  she 
went  as  near  as  she  dared  to  the  edge  of 
the  clilT,  and  looked  over.  The  crags  just 
at  that  spot  were  precipitous,  rising  almost 
perpendicularly  from  the  shore ;  and  as 
she  tried  to  look  down,  her  head  became 
dizzy,  and  she  was  obliged  to  tm*n  Cjuickly 
away  lest  she  might  lose  her  balance,  — 
when  the  sudden  flutter  of  somethinsf 
white,  midway  up  the  rock,  a  few  hundred 
yards  further  on,  caught  her  eye.  She 
was  anxiously'trying  to  make  out  what  this 
could  be,  when  the  wind  lifted  it  again, 
and  she  could  plainly  distinguish  a  hand- 
kerchief tied  to  the  lonfir  trailins^  runner  of 
a  blackberry  bush,  and  seemingly  placed 
there  intentionally.  Her  heart  beat  flist. 
"Was  this  Mr.  Eiversdale's  sisfnal  of  dis- 
tress?  The  rock  seemed  to  be  inacces- 
sible from  above,  and  to  look  over  even 
made  her  giddy. 


90  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

"Is  any  body  there?"  she  cried,  and  her 
own  voice  sounded  strangely  weak  and 
low.  No  answer  came,  but  a  faint  echo. 
Again  she  raised  her  voice,  and  more 
loudly  this  time,  and,  oh !  joy,  a  reply 
came  from  below,  and  indeed  it  was  Mr. 
Riversdale  ! 

" Holloa, there  !"  he  cried,  "whoever you 
are,  for  pity's  sake  give  me  help,  will  you? 
Get  a  good  strong  rope,  and  a  couple  of 
men." 

"  Oh,  sir  !  oh,  Mr.  Eiversdale  !  "  shout- 
ed Nellie,  as  loudly  as  she  could,  "is  that 
you  ?  I'll  go  as  fast  as  ever  I  can.  'Tis 
me,  sir,  —  Nellie  Newton." 

"  You,  Nellie  !  "  he  returned ;  "  well,  be 
as  quick  as  you  can,  there's  a  good  girl, 
and  get  some  one  to  help  me  up." 

Nellie  hobbled  off  to  a  farm-house,  the 
nearest  she  could  see.  She  did  not  know 
who  lived  there,  but  on  hearing  her  tale, 


THE  RESCUE.  91 

tlicy  came  with  all  speed  to  Mr.  Eivers- 
dale's  assistance,  though  cveu  then  a  good 
deal  of  delay  was  unavoidable  ;  and  a  man 
being  let  down  over  the  cliff,  by  means  of 
a  rope,  he  by  and  by  managed,  not  with- 
out difficulty,  to  help  him,  sadly  cramped 
and  benumbed,  out  of  his  perilous  position. 

"Safe  once  more,  thank  God,"  said  he, 
lifting  his  hat  reverently  when  he  stood  on 
level  ground.  "  I  scarcely  thought,  at  one 
time,  I  should  have  been  able  to  hold  on 
much  lonsrer :  and  if  I  had  once  lost  mv 
balance,  it  would  have  been  all  over  with  ^ 
me." 

"  Ay,"  said  the  farmer,  who  had  hastened 
to  the  spot  at  Nellie's  urgent  request,  "  them 
rocks  an't  the  most  cheery  place  to  spend 
the  night  on.  How  did  it  come  about, 
sir?  but  there,  —  I  must  ask  3^our  pardon, 
for  sure  enough  yc're  not  fit  to  tell  a  story, 
nor  aught  else,  by  the  looks  of  yc  ;  and  if 


92  NELLIE  XEWTOy. 

yell  just  step  up  to  the  house,  and  have  a 
mouthful  of  summat  to  eat,  may  be  'twould 
put  some  strength  into  ye." 

"  A  very  comfortable  suggestion,  which 
I  shall  be  only  too  glad  to  accept,  —  and 
this  lassie,  too,"  said  Mr.  Eivcrsdale,  sud- 
denly turning  to  the  young  girl,  who  stood 
quietly  by,  thankful  for  the  support  of  her 
crutches,  and  with  tears  of  joy  in  her  eyes 
at  the  thought  of  having  been  of  some 
use,  —  "why,  Nellie,  how  came  you 
here?" 
1^  Nellie  related  in  her  simple  way  the 
events  of  the  last  few  hours,  not  forget- 
ting to  mention  the  shouts  which  had  so 
strongly  impressed  her. 

"If  it  hadn't  a'  been  for  that,  you  know, 

.  sir,  I  should  never  a'  thought  about  it ;  for 

mother,  she  made  sure  you'd  gone  out  in 

one  of  the  boats  ;  but  somehow,  I  couldn't 


THE  RESCUE.  93 

sleep  for  tliinking  of  those  cries,  —  and 
oh,  sh',  thank  God  you're  safe  at  last !  " 

"It  was  God  who  sent  you  to  my  help, 
I  can  not  but  think,  Xellie  ;  for  though  I 
shouted  and  shouted  again,  no  one  seemed 
to  hear ;  and  I  waved  my  handkerchief  as 
well,  for  a  long  time,  in  hope  one  of  the 
boats  might  see  it  from  out  at  sea." 

"  But  how  did  you  get  there,  sir  ?  "  asked 
Xellie. 

"Why,  Xellie,  I  carelessly  allowed  my- 
self to  be  surrounded  by  the  tide,  as  I  Avas 
strolling  along  the  shore,  and  not  being 
willing  to  wait  several  hours,  until  I  could 
get  round  the  Head  again,  I  thought  I 
would  try  to  scale  the  rocks,  and  managed 
to  scramble  half-way  up  tolerably  well ; 
but,  at  last,  it  became  too  steep  for  me, 
and  I  found  I  could  neither  get  higher  up, 
nor  even  clamber  down ;  so  there  I  was  on 
a  little  ledge  of  the  cliff,  where  there  was 


94  NELLIE  NEWTOy. 

scarcely  standing  room,  and  very  little  to 
hold  on  by  I  A  most  unpleasant  position, 
I  can  assnre  you,  to  keep  for  nearly  eight- 
een hours  ;  for  had  I  made  the  least  false 
movement,  it  would  certainly  have  been 
at  the  risk  of  being  dashed  to  pieces  on  the 
shingle  below ! " 

Xellie  shuddered.  "  Oh !  sir,  how 
thankful  I  am  I  got  up  and  came  along  the 
cliff  this  morning  I  " 

"Yes,  N"ellie,  and  I  hope  it  has  taught 
me  a  lesson  of  deeper  thankfulness  to  the 
Great  Keeper  of  his  people,  who  neither 
slumbers  nor  sleeps,  while  he  watches 
over  our  going  out  and  coming  in,  and  has 
so  mercifully  preserved  me  from  this 
danger." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  farm, 
and  Mr.  Hockey,  the  farmer,  who  had  hur- 
ried on  to  make  preparations  for  breakfast, 
came  out  to  meet  them,  followed  by  his 


THE  RESCUE.  \)o 

good  wife,  from  -syhom  they  received  a 
hearty  welcome. 

By  the  time  they  left  the  form  it  was 
quite  eight  o'clock;  and  Mrs.  Xewton, 
who  had  been  fidgeting  iu  and  out  many 
times,  looking  for  Xellie,  at  length  went 
up  to  the  ^Varren.  What  was  her  sur- 
prise, when  she  saw  Mr.  Riversdale  him- 
self driving  Xellie  up  to  the  cottage  in  the 
former's  light  cart,  which  he  had  insisted 
on  placijig  at  his  disposal. 

"  Oh !  sir,"  she  exclaimed,  as  she  ran 
out,  "what  has  been  the  matter?  We've 
been  in  such  a  taking  about  ye  !  " 

"  And  might  have  been  for  a  good  long 
time,  perhaps,  Mrs.  Xewton,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  Xellie  here,"  said  Mr.  Eivers- 
dale,  —  and  then  the  whole  story  had  to 
be  gone  over  again. 

"  Well,  to  be  sure  !  "  said  Mrs.  Xewton  ; 
"to  think  of  you  having  been  (Uit  all  night 

6* 


06  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

ou  the  rocks !  But  God  be  praised  you 
are  safe  at  last,  for  it's  not  the  first  time  I 
have  heard  tell  of  terrible  things  happen- 
ing amongst  these  cliffs  about  here." 

This  little  incident  was  quite  an  event 
in  Nellie's  quiet  life ;  and  we  shall  find 
that  it  was  the  means,  under  Providence, 
of  changing  the  tenor  of  her  whole  future 
history. 


'-^ 


CHAPTEE  Yin. 

OLD     JOB. 

)Pv.  RIYERSDxVLE  did  not  remain 
much  longer  at  Stronnale,  and  all 
regretted  his  departure.  A  week 
'i^'^  or  two  after  he  had  left,  a  letter 
came  for  Xellie  Xewton, — an  event  so 
unwonted,  she  could  scarcely  believe  that 
it  was  true  ;  indeed,  I  am  not  sure  if  it 
were  not  the  very  first  she  had  ever  received 
in  her  life.  She  read  the  addi'css  again 
and  again,  and  examined  the  stamp,  then 
turned  it  over  and  looked  at  the  post- 
mark, and  wondered  who  could  have  sent 
it,  until  at  last,  it  occurred  to  her  that  she 
must  open  it  before  she  could  find  out. 
"  What  can  the  postman  want  Avith  our 

97 


98  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

Nell?"  said  Bill,  who  was  getting  ready 
for  school.  "  Why,  mother,  she's  got  a 
letter,  do  just  look ! "  and  both  the  chil- 
dren ran  out  to  the  gate  in  eager  haste. 

"Who  is  it  from?"  said  Mrs.  Newton, 
as  Nellie  put  it  into  her  hand ;  "  why,  it's 
for  you,  child !  —  well,  let's  see  what  it's 
all  about." 

It  proved  to  be  from  their  kind  friend, 
]\Iiss  Langton ;  and  who  can  describe  Nel- 
lie's delight  w^hen  she  found  it  contained, 
—  what  do  you  think?  —  an  order  for  a 
bridal  veil  of  the  finest  work  and  most 
beautiful  pattern  she  could  design !  It 
was  to  be  a  gift,  as  the  letter  informed 
her,  and  must  be  completed  before  the  end 
of  the  year ;  consequently  she  Vv^ould  have 
to  work  very  hard  to  get  it  ready  in  time. 
And  thus,  at  last,  one  of  Nellie's  dearest 
wishes  was  to  be  fuliilled,  and  she  vras 
really  to  undertake  a  piece  of  vrork,  the 


OLD  JOB.  99 

payiiient  for  which  would  enable  lier  to  be 
of  very  great  assistance  to  her  mother. 

"Oh,"  she  exclaimed,  "I  am  so  thank- 
ful !  Xow  we'll  be  able  to  get  a  good 
thick  blanket  or  two  before  this  Avinter  sets 
in,  — don't  you  remember  how  we  wanted 
them  last  Christmas?  and  a  warm  shawl 
for  you,  motlier,  and  may  be  a  frock  and  a 
pair  of  strong  boots  for  Mercy  and  Bill. 
I  do  believe  God  has  put  it  into  her  heart 
to  give  us  the  order,  clear,  kind  lady !  for 
you  know  'tvv^as  only  last  Aveek  we  were 
saying  how  hard  'twould  be  to  get  through 
this  winter,  when  every  thing  is  so  dear." 

"Ay,  lass,  he'll  never  let  the  widow  and 
the  orphan  want  who  put  their  trust  in 
him,"  said  Mrs.  Xewton  ;  "  but,  mind  you, 
there's  many  a  w^eary  hour  afore  the  last 
stitch  is  done,  and  you'll  have  to  work  hard 
not  to  disappoint  the  lady." 

It  was  by  no  means  the  hrst  order  for 


100  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

lace-TTork  ^hich  Nellie  had  received,  let 
the  reader  understand.  But  the  secret  of 
the  difference  to  her  was  this ;  when  lace 
had  been  bespoken  by  the  dealer,  in  those 
days,  the  payment  was  generally  made  in 
orders  on  certain  shops,  where  even  then 
they  would  receive  such  articles  only  as 
the  shop-keeper  chose,  and,  too  often,  un- 
principled tradesmen  would  compel  the 
poor  lace-workers  to  take  such  goods  off 
their  hands  as  were  either  damaged,  or  of 
bad  quality,  or  otherwise  unsalable.  The 
lace-women  constantly  complained  of  this 
great  hardship,  but  in  vain,  for  by  no 
other  possible  means  could  those  who  lived 
in  secluded  parts  of  the  country  get  a  sale 
at  all  for  their  wares.  Doubtless  the 
easier  conveyance  of  goods  by  means  of 
the  railway  has  been  the  chief  cause  of 
the  gradual  decline  of  the  many  evils  of 
the  "  truck  "  system  which  used  to  oppress 


OLD  JOB.  101 

SO  many  of  the  poor ;  but  Xellic  aud  her 
mother  had  often  sighed  over  the  parcel 
they  had  brought  home  from  the  linen- 
draper's,  in  payment  for  many  a  weary 
day's  work,  when,  perhaps,  they  sorely 
needed  flour  from  the  mill  for  their  daily 
bread,  or  money  in  hand  to  pay  the  rent 
which  was  already  overdue.  It  was  this, 
therefore,  that  gave  Kellie  additional  pleas- 
ure in  receiving  an  order  direct  from  pri- 
vate hands,  and  she  resolved  to  do  her 
very  best,  not  only  for  the  sake  of  her 
grateful  attachment  to  Miss  Langton,  but 
also  that  she  might  give  such  satisfliction 
to  her  kind  employer  as  might  lead  her, 
possibly,  to  recommend  her  vrork  to  others. 
The  lace  was  so  fine  that  it  was  little  Mrs. 
Xewton  could  do  in  the  way  of  helping 
Nellie,  for  her  eyes  were  failing,  and  she 
had  never  been  a  very  expert  worker. 
"XeFlic,  lass,"  she  would  say,  "I  Avish  I 


102  NELLIE  XEWTOX. 

could  be  o'  more  help  to  ye,  but  I  expect 
'twould  be  more  of  a  hindrance  than  aught 
else  if  I  tried."  And  Xellie  would  answer, 
with  one  of  her  cheerful  smiles,  "Never 
you  mind,  mother ;  you  know 'tis  all  I  can 
do  now,  so  'tis  just  as  it  should  be." 

But,  truth  to  tell,  Nellie  did  often  get 
weary,  and  longed  to  throw  aside  her 
"  pilt ;  "  for  day  after  day  brought  with  it 
the  same  sprigs  to  make,  and  the  same 
work  to  do,  over  and  over  again.  But 
Nellie  had  already  begun  to  learn  another 
lesson  in  the  school  of  life, — that  of  per- 
severance in  labor,  without  which  great 
talents  and  abilities  have  been  too  often 
wasted.  Little  by  little  her  work  grew 
under  her  diligent  hand;  and  as  it  pro- 
gressed, her  mother  sometimes  began  to 
fear  lest  her  application  to  it  might  be  too 
close  for  her  health,  and  would  often  per- 
suade her  to  go  up  to  the  Warren  on  some 


OLD  JOB.  103 

kind  errand  to  old  Job,  upon  whom  the 
infirmities  of  age  were  pressing  somewhat 
heavily.  The  poor  old  man  delighted  in 
her  visits,  and  would  often  ask  her  to  take 
"the  Book,"  as  he  always  called  the  large- 
print  Bible  his  clergyman,  ]Mr.  Morton, 
had  given  him,  that  she  might  read  him 
one  of  his  favorite  chapters.  He  had 
never  been  "much  of  a  scholar,"  as  he 
used  to  say ;  and  now  that  his  eyes  were 
dim,  Xellie's  clear  young  voice  sounded 
very  sweet  to  him,  as  she  read*  aloud  the 
holy  words  which  he  could  hardly  distin- 
guish for  himself.  For  a  long  time  a  work 
of  grace,  silent  but  none  the  less  real,  had 
been  going  on  in  the  old  man's  heart,  dat- 
ing from  the  hour  when  XelHe's  patient 
submission  to  the  will  of  God,  under  se- 
vere pain  and  trial,  had  impressed  itself 
so  deeply  on  his  mind ;  and  he,  too,  longed 
to  possess  a  religion  which  conld  thus  sap- 


104  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

port  and  comforf  the  true  believer  under 
sorrow  and  suflcring.  Little  by  little  ho 
learned  to  see,  as  he  watched  Nellie's  daily 
life,  that  humble  faith  in  a  crucified  Ee- 
deemer  was  the  mainspring  of  all  her 
actions ;  and  though  far  from  being  per- 
fect, he  felt  that  there  was  a  reality  in  the 
religion  which  influenced  all  her  conduct. 
Her  words  on  the  subject  were  very  few 
and  simple,  but  they  were  such  as  old  Job 
could  easily  understand ;  and  through  her 
gentle  and  child-like  teaching,  all  unknown 
to  herself,  she  had  been  made  the  instru- 
ment in  God's  hand  of  leading  the  old  man 
to  a  knowled^'c  of  his  lost  and  sinful  state 
by  nature,  and  of  the  only  refuge  for  the 
weary  and  heavy  laden  with  the  burden  of 
sin,  even  Jesus  Christ  the  Eighteous.  He 
had  realized  the  preciousness  of  that  truth 
that  Christ  is  able  to  save  to  the  utter- 
most, and  of  that  word  of  promise,  "  Him 


OLD  JOB.  105 

that  Cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
out." 

"Ah,  Nellie,  lass,"  he  said,  one  autmnu 
day,  as  she  sat  on  a  low  scat  by  his  side, 
looking  out  upon  the  calm,  gray  sea,  "ye 
have  been  an  old  man's  blessing  and  com- 
fort this  many  a  day,  and  God  Avill  reward 
ye  for  it,  though  I  can't.  Ye've  been  more 
to  me  than  ye  think,  for  if  it  hadn't  a'  been 
for  3'ou  I  should  never  have  known  what  a 
miserable  old  sinner  I've  been  all  my  days. 
Ay,"  he  went  on,  as  the  tears  rolled  down 
his  wrinkled  face,  "  true  enough  I've  gone 
astray  like  a  lost  sheep,  but  I  humbly 
trust  that  the  Good  Shepherd  has  found 
me  wandering,  and  led  me  into  his  fold, 
and  that  he'll  guide  me  safe  home  at  last. 
'Twon't  be  long  now,  lassie  ;  and  thank  the 
Lord  I  hope  I'm  ready  to  go  when  he  calls 
me  ;  but  'tis  all  of  his  goodness  and  mercy 
if  I  be." 


106  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

"Yes,"  said  Xellie,  "that's  what  we 
must  all  say,  —  *  being  justified  freely  by 
his  grace  through  the  redemption  that  is  in 
Christ  Jesus.'  It's  only  the  precious  blood 
of  Jesus  that  can  cleanse  us  from  all  sin ; 
for  you  know  the  Bible  says,  *  There  is 
no  difference;  for  all  have  sinned,  and 
come  short  of  the  glory  of  God.' " 

"  Ay,"  returned  the  old  man,  "  the  Book 
says  so  ;  and  so  it  is,  though  I  sometimes 
sit  and  think  how  wonderful  it  be  that 
there's  but  one  way  for  young  and  old, 
rich  and  poor ;  and  that  'tis  a  free  gift  to 
all, — to  as  many  as  will  take  it.  But 
there,"  he  added,  with  the  simple  faith  of 
a  little  child,  "  'tis  not  for  the  like  of  me 
to  wonder  at  the  Lord's  doings,  except  it 
be  that  he  has  had  mercy  on  a  poor  old 
sinner  who  has  never  loved  nor  served  him 
all  through  a  long  life  as  he  ought  to  a' 
done, — but  who  humbly  trusts  that  he'll 


OLD  JOB.  107 

be  accepted,  even  at  the  eleventh  hour, 
for  the  sake  of  Him  who  died  on  the 
cross,  — the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Nellie  had  not  many  more  talks  with  her 
old  friend,  for  very  soon  after  this  J  oh 
was  taken  to  his  rest ;  but  as  she  stood  by 
the  newly-made  grave,  she  felt  she  could 
not  grieve  as  for  one  whom  she  could  have 
no  hope  of  meeting  again ;  for  she  was 
sure  that  the  foith  which  had  brii^htened 
his  declining  years  was  true  and  sincere, 
and  that  he  would  be  one  amongst  that 
great  multitude  who  will  hereafter  sing  the 
new  song  of  praise  and  honor  and  glory  to 
Him  who  giveth  us  the  victor}^,  —  even  to 
the  "Lamb  of  God,"  vdio  was  slain  to 
"take  away  the  sin  of  the  world." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Nellie's  surprise. 

FTER  many  a  weary  stitch,  as  Mrs. 
Newton  had  said,  at  length  the 
'PpSjy  veil  was  finished ;  and  every  one 
'^Q^  who  saw  it  pronounced  it  a  most 
beautiful  piece  of  workmanship.  There 
still  remained  a  week  to  the  time  which 
Miss  Langton  had  fixed ;  and  with  the 
greatest  care  Nellie  packed  it  up  in  the 
flat  card-board  box  she  had  procured  on 
purpose,  and  despatched  it  to  its  destina- 
tion. "  Oh,  mother,"  she  said,  "I  do  hope 
it'll  go  all  right.  I'll  be  in  such  a  way  till 
I  know  that  Miss  Lans^ton  has  Cfot  it." 

But  several  days  passed,  and  no  tidmgs 
came,  which  made  Nellie  restless  and  un- 

108 


XELLIE'S  SURPRISE.  109 

easy,  lest  any  harm  should  have  happened 
to  the  precious  box.  It  was  drawing 
towards  Christmas  time,  and  the  weather 
was  cold  and  boisterous,  so  that  thej  could 
no  longer  sit  with  open  doors  and  windows, 
when  one  afternoon,  just  as  they  had  put 
on  the  kettle  for  their  tea,  and  Xelb'e  had 
given  up  all  hopes  of  hearing  any  tidings 
of  the  veil  for  that  day,  a  knock  came  at 
the  door. 

"  Does  Xellie  Xewton  live  here  ?  "  said  a 
cheerful  voice,  as  jN'ellie  opened  it ;  andou 
being  invited  in,  a  pleasant-looking  young 
woman,  with  a  small  milliner's  basket  in 
her  hand,  entered.  "I've  brought  a  mes- 
saii'e  from  Miss  Lano'tonfor  vou,"  she  said, 
as  she  took  the  chair  by  the  fireside  which 
]Mrs.  Xewton  had  offered  her. 

"Is  it  about  the  veil?"  asked  Xellie, 
whose  heart  began  to  beat  quite  tast. 

"  Yes  ;  I   was  bid   to  say  that  she  was 

7 


110  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

very  well  pleased  with  it,  and  that  it 
reached  her  quite  safely.  But  it's  not  alto- 
gether that  I've  come  about,  either,"  said 
the  young  woman.  "  I  wonder,  now,  if 
you'd  be  able  to  guess  ?  " 

"Something  else?"  said  Nellie,  in  sur- 
prise. "  I  don't  know  that  I  expected  to 
hear  about  any  thing  else,  exce^Dt,  may  be 

"  she  stopped,  not  liking  to  appear  so 

impatient  to  be  paid  for  her  work. 

"Nor  I  don't  believe  you'd  ever  guess, 
neither,"  said  the  young  woman,  laughing, 
"if  I  gave  you  from  now  till  bed-time. 
Why,  it's  just  this :  Miss  Langton  wants 
you  to  come  to  Thornecliffe  to  see  the  wed- 
ding that  is  to  be.  "hlj  mistress  is  going 
to  drive  over  in  her  own  carriage,  and  as  I 
wait  onher,  I'm  going  too  ;  and  Miss  Lang- 
ton  has  asked  jMrs.  Scaforth  to  let  you  go 
along  with  me,  —  leastways,  if  you  like  to 
come,  that's  to  say;  and  I  don't  suppose 
you'll  bo  one  to  refuse." 


NELLIE'S  sunpniSE.  Ill 

"Me  go  to  see  the  wedding  I  "  said  poor 
Xellie,  who  had  never  been  more  than  live 
miles  out  of  Stronnale  in  her  life,  quite 
bewildered  at  the  news.  "  You  can't  mean 
it,  surely?" 

"  Why,  child,  ye've  got  nothing  fit  to  go 
in  along  wi'  this  young  woman,"  said  Mrs. 
Newton,  thinking  with  dismay  of  poor 
Nellie's  wardrobe,  and  surveying  their  vis- 
itor—who was  dressed,  in  her  estimation, 
"like  a  lady  "  —  from  top  to  toe,  through 
her  spectacles. 

"I  expect  Miss  Langton's  thought  of 
that,  too,"  said  Nancy  IMorris,  for  that  was 
the  girl's  name.  "  See  here  what  I  have 
brought  with  me,"  and  she  opened  the 
basket  and  took  out  a  bonnet  and  shawl 
and  a  neat  stufl' dress,  all  ready  for  Nellie 
to  wear  on  the  eventful  occasion.  It  was 
surprise  upon  surprise  ! 

"All  these  for  me?"  said  she,  looking 


112  jriLLIE  NEWTOy. 

quite  puzzled,  and  half  afraid  to  examine 
the  treasures  which  Nancy  declared  were 
hero. 

"Why,  yes,  to  be  sure.  You  don't 
zhink  I'd  have  come  all  the  way  from  Wa- 
tertou  to  bring  them  to  you  if  they  hadn't 
been?"  returned  she,  amused  at  Nellie's 
doubts.  "But  now,  if  you'll  let  me  have 
a  cup  of  tea  I  shall  be  glad  of  it,  before  I 
start  home  again;  for  it  is  cold  walking 
over  the  cliff  I  can  tell  you,  with  this  wind 
blowins^  in  one's  teeth." 

Mrs.  Newton,  meanwhile,  had  slipped 
an  extra  spoonful  of  tea  into  the  pot,  and 
was  quite  ready  to  press  Nancy  to  join 
their  meal,  who  rattled  on  about  the  grand 
doings  they  would  see  at  Thornecliffe,  and 
the  fine  company,  until  Nellie  felt  quite 
abashed.  At  last,  however,  she  got  up 
to  go. 

"It's  to  be  on   Wednesday,  and   we're 


KELLIE'S  SURPniSE.  113 

going  on  Tuesday,  for  ThorncclilTe's  twenty 
miles  away  from  here ;  so  be  sure  you're 
all  ready,  Nellie  Xewton.  By  the  way, 
my  mistress  bid  me  say  that  the  carriage 
would  pass  the  top  of  the  lane  up  there 
beyond  the  church ;  so  if  you'll  be  there 
by  half-past  twelve,  we'll  stop  and  pick 
you  up.  I'd  most  forgot  to  tell  you,  I 
declare  ! "  and  so  saying,  Nancy  took  her 
leave. 

"Well,  Nellie,  who'd  a'  thought  it?'* 
said  Mrs.  Newi:on,  quite  delighted  at  her 
lame  gii'l's  good  fortune.  "  X\\  these  nice 
clothes  and  an  outing  beside.  Why,  child, 
you'll  be  quite  set  up, —  it'll  do  you  good, 
that  it  will." 

"  Isn't  it  kind  of  Miss  Langton,  mother? 
To  think  of  her  sending  me  all  these  I  It's 
just  like  her  goodness;  and,  do  look,  if 
there  a'nt  a  pair  of  gloves  besides  ! " 

"Oh,  Nell,"  said  Mercy,  "how  I  wish  I 

7* 


114  KELLJE  KEWTOir. 

was  going  too  !  I  should  so  like  to  see  all 
the  company,  and  the  pretty  dresses  ;  oh  ! 
and  the  veil,  —  you'll  see  how  that  looks, 
and  all,  —  for  the  lady's  to  wear  it,  an't 
she,  mother?" 

"Ah,  but  I'd  like  to  sit  up  beside  the 
coachman,  and  see  the  horses,  I  would," 
said  Bill.  "  What  a  jolly  time  you'll  have, 
Nell !  an't  you  in  luck,  that's  all." 

But  nobody  grudged  Nellie  her  expedi- 
tion, for  she  was  such  a  good  daughter, 
and  kind,  loving  sister,  that  they  all  re- 
joiced in  her  happiness  ;  and  besides,  they 
remembered  how  few  pleasures  the  poor 
lame  girl  could  enjoy  in  comparison  with 
others. 

Tuesday  came  at  length,  and  Nellie  was 
carefully  dressed  by  her  mother's  loving- 
hands  in  Miss  Langton's  kind  present.  It 
was  wonderful  the  change  it  made  in  her 
appearance;    for  though  every  thing  was 


NELLIE'S  sunrniSE.  115 

plain,  and  suitable  to  her  station  in  life, 
still  she  had  never  before  possessed  a  whole 
new  suit,  and  her  mother's  eyes  fliirly 
brimmed  over  as  she  looked  at  her  child. 
When  tTTclvc  o'clock  came,  ^Irs.  Xewton 
walked  with  her  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill. 
All  in  good  time  Mrs.  Seaforth's  carriage 
made  its  appearance,  and  Xellie  was  helped 
up  to  a  seat  beside  Xancy  Morris,  who  was 
in  the  rumble  behind.  She  had  only  time 
for  a  wave  of  the  hand  to  her  mother  be- 
fore the  carriage  rolled  away  again,  and 
Mrs.  Xewton  was  left  standing  alone,  look- 
ing after  it,  until  a  turn  in  the  road  hid 
her  daughter  from  her  sight. 

All  was  new  to  Xellie,  and  greatly  she 
enjoyed  the  drive,  though  she  felt  a  little 
timid  sometimes,  until  Xancy's  merry  chat- 
ter put  her  quite  at  her  ease.  Oddly 
enough,  she  had  never  yet  heard  whoso 
wedding  she  was  going  to  see,  and  it  never 


116  NELLIE  NEWTOX. 

occurred  to  hor  simple  miud  to  be  curious 
about  the  matter.  She  only  remembered 
the  great  pleasure  that  was  in  store  for  her, 
of  meeting  her  kind  friend,  Miss  Langton, 
again,  mingled  with  anxiety,  which  was 
but  natural,  to  see  the  effect  of  the  work 
of  her  own  hands.  As  for  the  rest,  she 
felt  rather  nervous  at  being  brought  into 
the  company  of  so  many  strangers  in  the 
servants'  hall  at  Thornecliffe,  which  Xancy 
described  with  such  lively  interest  and 
delight. 

After  a  very  long  drive,  the  lodge-gates 
at  Thornecliffe  Hall  at  last  opened  to  re- 
ceive them,  and  the  carriaofc  rolled  alon«: 
the  smooth  drive  until  it  came  to  a  stand 
before  the  porch,  where  Mrs.  Seaforth  and 
another  lady  who  was  with  her  got  out, 
and  then  John,  the  coachman,  drove  round 
to  the  stables.  Here  Nancy  alighted,  and 
Nellie  being  lifted  down,  they  were  ush- 


NELLIE'S  sunrnisE.  117 

erecl  into  the  large  kitchen,  where  a  num- 
ber of  servants  were  assembled.  After  a 
while,  the  house-keeper,  who  was  a  very 
grand  ladj  indeed,  Xellie  thought,  in  her 
black  silk  dress,  came  for  her,  and  she  was 
shown  the  vray  to  a  small  room,  which  she 
liked  much  better  than  the  great  servants' 
hall,  where  a  bright  fire  was  burning,  with 
the  kettle  singing  on  the  hob,  and  tea  was 
ready  set  upon  the  table. 

"  This  is  my  own  room,  my  dear,"  said 
Mrs.  Koper,  who  was  a  kind,  motherlj^ 
person ;  "  and  as  Miss  Langton  asked  me 
to  have  a  special  care  of  you,  I  thought 
very  likely  you'd  as  soon  come  in  here  and 
have  your  tea  with  me,  as  be  with  that 
noisy  set  in  the  hall.  So  sit  you  down 
there  by  the  fii'e,  and  make  yourself  com- 
fortable, while  I  pour  out  the  tea." 

jS"ellie  soon  got  over  her  shjmess,  and 
she  thought  she  had  never  tasted  any  thing 


118  NELLIE  NEWTON: 

SO  good  as  the  uice  cake  and  preserve 
which  Mrs.  Roper  gave  her,  for  her  long 
drive  had  made  her  hungry.  She  could 
not  help  wishing  that  her  mother  and  ail 
of  them  were  there  to  enjoy  her  visit  with 
her ;  but  that  could  not  be,  and  she  felt  a 
little  frisrhtened  as  she  thousfht  how  far 
away  she  was  from  every  one  she  kncAV. 
She  had  seen  nothing  yet  of  Miss  Langton, 
and,  summonins:  ni)  courasje  at  last,  she 
asked  if  "she  were  well,  and  whether  she 
might  see  her  by  and  by  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Roper,  "  she's  quite 
well,  but  there's  a  deal  of  company  in  the 
house,  and  she  can't  see  you  until  the 
dressing-bell  rings,  and  then  you're  to  go 
up  to  her  room ;  but  that  won't  be  yet 
awhile,  so  you  must  just  make  yourself  at 
home  here  in  the  mean  time." 

This  Nellie  contrived  to  do  sooner  than 
she  expected,  for  Mrs.  Roper  trJked  to  her 


NELLIE'S  SULPmSE.  UQ 

SO  pleasantly,  and  asked  so  many  questions 
about  her  lace-work,  that  before  long  she 
found  herself  chatting  away  as  if  she  had 
known  her  all  her  life  ;  and  when  the  great 
bell  on  the  top  of  the  house  began  to  ring, 
she  was  astonished  to  find  how  quickly  the 
time  had  passed.  "I'm  sure,  ma'am,  it's 
very  kind  of  you  to  let  me  be  here  with 
you  instead  of  along  with  the  rest,  for  I 
began  to  feel  quite  afraid,  wlien  I  saw 
what  a  many  there  was  in  the  great  room 
yonder,"  said  Xellie,  as  she  followed  Mrs. 
Eoper  up  stau's  to  Miss  Langton's  room. 

"Here's  Kellie  Xewton,  ma'am,"  said 
she,  in  ansv.'er  to  Miss  Langton's  gentle 
"  Come  in,"  after  her  knock  ;  and  opening 
the  door,  she  ushered  Xellie  in,  and  left 
her  with  her  kind  friend,  whom  she  was 
overjo^'ed  to  see  again. 

"^Veil,  Xellie,"  said  Miss  Langtou,  after 
the  iir^t  greetings  vrcre  over,  ''  I  h-jpe  ycni 


120  NELLIE  NEWTON, 

are  pleased  with  our  little  plan  for  you.  I 
thought  it  would  be  a  treat  to  you  to  see 
how  your  own  work  looked,  for  indeed 
you  have  done  it  most  skillfully." 

"You're  very  kind,  ma'am,"  said  Nellie  ; 
"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know  how  to  thank  you 
enough,  and  for  all  these  beautiful  thhigs 
you  sent  me,  too  !  Mother  bid  me  give 
you  her  duty,  and  tell  you  how  grateful 
we  are  for  all  ^^ou've  done  for  us." 

"But  you  must  remember,  Nellie,  you 
have  done  something  for  us,  too.  My 
nephew  told  me  how  you  had  been  the 
means  of  getting  him  out  of  a  sad  difficul- 
ty, in  the  summer,  — perhaps  even  of  sav- 
ing his  life,  —  so  that  we  are  in  your  debt 
now." 

"  Oh !  ma'am,  I'm  sure  'twas  nothing  I 
did.  ]Mr.  Rivcrsdale  was  always  so  kind, 
and  —  and  —  oh  !  ma'am,  I'd  always  do 
any  thing  I  could  for  any  one  that  belonged 


NELLIE'S  sunrnisE.  121 

to  you.  I  can  never  forget  all  you've 
done  for  me ; "  and  Xellie  fairly  broke 
down  in  her  eagerness. 

"  Well,"  said  Miss  Langton,  "at  any  rate 
I  owe  you  for  six  months'  work,  ^N'ellic, 
and  that  will  amount  to  a  good  deal.  But 
we  will  see  about  that  before  you  leave 
Thornecliff.  In  the  mean  time,  I  hope 
they  make  you  comfortable  down-stairs  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,  ma'am;  Mrs.  Roper  gave  me 
my  tea  in  her  own  room,  and  she  says  I 
may  stay  there  if  I  like,  instead  of  going 
into  the  large  hall  with  the  others." 

"xVh,  that's  right.  I  dare  say  you  do 
like  it  better,  and  I  feel  sure  ^Irs.  Roper 
will  be  kind  to  you,"  said  Miss  Langton. 

The  morrow  came,  —  a  bright  frosty 
da}',  and  not  too  cold.  Every  one  was  up 
betimes,  and  such  a  bustle  and  running  to 
and  fro,  and  giving  of  orders  here,  and 
ringing  of  bells  there,  Xcllic  ne^cr  hjard 


122  KELLIE  NEIVTOX. 

iu  her  life  iDcfore.  About  half-past  ten 
Nancy  came  for  her,  and  bade  her  pat  on 
her  bonnet  and  shawl,  for  it  was  time  for 
them  to  go  to  the  church.  "But  stay," 
said  she,  "  have  you  seen  the  breakfast- 
room  3'et?" 

"No,"  said  Nellie,  thinking  in  her  own 
mmd  it  was  rather  late  to  be  talking  of 
breakfast. 

"  Come  along,  then,"  said  Nancy,  "  and 
we'll  just  peep  in  before  we  go."  Such  a 
sight  as  it  was  to  Nellie,  with  the  great 
white  wedding-cake  in  the  center,  encir- 
cled with  a  beautiful  ATreath ;  and  flowers 
in  full  bloom  cyery  here  and  there  down 
the  long  table,  scattenng  their  sweet  per- 
fume over  the  whole  room ;  and  numbers 
of  bright  and  glittering  things  of  which 
Nellie  did  not  even  know  the  use.  "  There, 
—  I  expect  you  never  saw  any  thing  like 
that   in   your   life   before ! "   said   Nancy, 


THE  WEDDING  SITPER. 


NELLIE'S  sun  PELS  E.  123 

with  not  a  little  pride  at  her  ovni  superior 
knowledge,  and  a  slight  dash  of  contempt 
for  Nellie's  ignorance,  as  she  noticed  her 
amazed  look  at  so  much  finery ;  "  but  we 
shall  be  late  at  the  wedding,  if  we  don't 
make  haste." 

The  pretty  country  church  was  deco- 
rated with  evergreens,  for  it  was  close 
upon  Christmas  time ;  and  the  red  holly- 
berries  shone  brightly  out  of  the  dark 
foliage.  Xellie  was  taken  to  a  place  which 
had  been  kept  for  her  ;  a  great  many  ladies 
and  gentlemen  were  there,  and  Xellie  won- 
dered whether  the  bride  could  be  among 
them  or  no,  but  she  looked  in  vain  for  the 
veil,  which  she  felt  sure  she  Avould  know 
at  once ;  and  besides,  all  seemed  waiting 
for  some  one  else  to  arrive.  At  leni^ih 
Xancy  whispered,  "Here  she  comes!" 
and  then  Xellie  saw  a  sweet-looldng  young 
lady,  dressed  all  in  white,  and  half-hiddeu 


124  NELLIE  KEWTOX. 

by  the  veil,  —  her  veil,  every  stitch  of 
which  Nellie  seemed  to  remember,  — 
walking  up  the  aisle,  leaning  on  the  arm 
of  a  tall  old  gentleman. 

"That's  her  father,"  said  Nancy;  but 
Nellie  had  no  eyes  for  any  one  but  the 
bride,  in  the  delicate  lace  which  she,  Nel- 
lie, had  made  with  her  own  hands.  She 
watched  her  all  the  way  up  the  church, 
and  then  somebody  stepped  forwaixl  to 
meet  her. 

Surely  Nellie  must  be  dreaming,  —  but 
no,  it  was  indeed  Mr.  Eiversdale  who 
placed  himself  by  the  young  lady's  side  ! 
Could  she  believe  her  eyes  ?  Nellie  caught 
hold  of  Nancy's  sleeve.  "  "Who's  she  go- 
ing to  be  married  to  ?  "  she  whispered,  in 
ffreat  excitement. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Eiversdale,  to  be  sure ; 
don't  you  see  him  standing  there  ?  " 

"To    ^Ir.     Eiversdale!"    said    Nellie: 


NELLIE'S  sunmiSE.  125 

"  why  they  never  told  me,  and  I've  been 
working  all  this  while  for " 

"Hush,"  said  JN'ancy,  and  then^immedi- 
ately  the  service  began.  But  Nellie  could 
not  get  over  her  surprise  ;  every  thing  had 
acquired  a  new  interest  to  her  within  the 
last  few  minutes  ;  and  now,  as  she  looked 
at  Mr.  Eiversdale  and  his  fair  young- 
bride,  she  thought  how  truly  kind  IMiss 
Langton  had  been,  to  give  her  such  a  pleas- 
ure as  this.  Little  did  she  then  imagine 
that  it  was  Mr.  Eiversdale  himself  who 
had  planned  it  all,  and  who  had  given  the 
order  for  the  veil  himself  moreover, 
through  his  aunt,  who  might  never  have 
thought  of  it  but  for  his  suggestion. 

But  now  the  ceremony  was  over,  and  a 
little  table  was  brousrht  down  from  the  ves- 
try,  which  was  an  old-fashioned  room,  up 
a  steep,  dark  stairway,  very  inconvenient 
to  go  up  or  dovrn ;  and  the  registers  were 


126  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

opened  and  the  names  were  signed,  and 
then  every  one  came  forward  to  congratu- 
late Mr. 'and  Mrs.  Eiversdale.  Presently 
he  turned  and  whispered  a  few  words  to 
his  bride,  and  they  both  crossed  over,  and 
spoke  to  Nell,  who  stood  up  covered  with 
blushes  at  being  so  publicly  noticed. 

"Well,  Nellie,"  said  Mr.  Eiversdale, 
laughing,  "  don't  you  think  your  workman- 
ship is  Avell  bestowed  ?  But  my  wife  has 
come  to  thank  you  for  having  looked  after 
me  so  well  that  summer  mornins:  amon2:st 
the  rocks.  I  assure  you,  Margaret,"  he 
added,  in  a  low  tone,  "I  might  never  have 
seen  this  happy  day,  if  it  had  not  been  for 
Nellie  Newton,  through  God's  mercy." 

"Indeed,"  said  Mrs.  Eiversdale,  with 
tears  in  her  eyes,  "  I  have  been  wishing  to 
see  you  for  a  long  time,  to  thank  you  m}^- 
self ;  and  I  am  so  glad  to  think  that  you 


NELLIE'S  SCJirHLb'E.  127 

were  able  to  make  my  veil  for  me,  for  it 
will  always  be  a  pleasant  meraor)\" 

Nellie's  heart  was  too  full  to  allow  her 
to  reply;  but  years  after,  she  spoke  of 
that  moment  as  oue  of  the  proudest  aud 
happiest  she  had  ever  kuowu  iu  her  life. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE    BIRTHDAY    GIFT, 

)ELLIE  did  not  see  Miss  Langton 
again  that  day,  for  she  was  too 
much  occupied  with  the  guests  as- 
sembled at  ThornecliiFe  to  attend  to 
She  was  very  happy,  however,  in 
Eoper's  snug  little  room,  who 
showed  her  many  things  she  had  never 
seen  in  her  life  before.  But  Nellie  enjoyed 
going  into  the  large  green-house,  full  of 
beautiful  and  bright  flowering  plants,  most 
of  all;  and  the  gardener  was  so  pleased 
with  her  expressions  of  delight  that  he 
gave  her  a  little  plant  in  a  pot  to  take  home 
with  her  next  day,  telling  her  at  the  same 
time  how  to  tend  it  properly,  which  she 

128 


THE  BIRTHDAY  GIFT.  129 

promised  to  do.  The  effect  of  tae  kindly 
notice  taken  of  Nellie  by  Mr.  and  ]Mrs. 
Eiversdale  on  Nancy's  demeanor  ^vas  won- 
derful to  behold.  Question  followed  ques- 
tion, until  at  length  she  succeeded  in  learn- 
ing the  whole  story,  when  her  patronizing 
air  grew  qnite  respectful.  Indeed,  Xellio 
was  made  so  much  of  by  ^Irs.  Roper  and 
some  of  the  older  servants,  that  had  she 
not  accidentally  overheard  some  thought- 
less and  rather  nnkind  remarks  about  her 
lameness,  her  poor  little  head  might  havo 
been  almost  turned.  She  felt  it  keenly ; 
but  if  the  medicine  was  bitter,  it  did  her 
good,  and  helped  to  keep  her  from  being 
too  much  elated  by  her  good  fortune. 

Next  day  Miss  Langton  sent  for  her  to 
her  own  room,  and  talked  to  her  for  some 
time  with  so  much  real  interest  in  her  wel- 
fare, that  Nellie  thought  it  was  the  most 
pleasant  part  of  her  visit  to  Thornecliffe, 


130  NELLIE  XEWTOX, 

for  it  recalled   the  bappy  clays  when  she 
used  to  be  taught  by  her  kind  friend. 

"And  now,"  said  Miss  Langton,  at 
length,  as  she  put  into  Nellie's  hands  a 
purse,  containing  ample  payment  for  her 
many  hours  of  toil,  bending  over  her  lace- 
pillow,  "  do  you  remember  a  talk  we  had 
lonsr  a£:o  tosfether  about  the  future?  I 
recollect  you  were  very  much  cast  down 
because  you  thought  you  would  never  be 
able  to  help  your  good  mother,  as  you  had 
hoped,  by  active  service  ;  and  I  reminded 
you  then  how  God  oftentimes  used  the 
very  means  we  fancied  most  unfavorable  to 
bring  about  his  own  good  purpose  towards 
us.  Now,  I  think,  you  find  that  *  all  things 
Aare  worked  together'  for  your  good,  do 
you  not,  my  dear?  Probably  you  would 
never  have  been  able  to  earn  so  much  in 
service  as  I  hope  you  vrill  now  do ;  and 
besides  this,  Nellie,  I  trust  that  far  better 


THE  LinrnDAY  GIFT.  131 

blessings  than  mere  eai-tlily  ones  have  been 
added  unto  you,  —  even  the  *  peace  and 
joy  in  believing,'  which  our  heavenly 
Father  intends  to  be  the  fruit  of  the  trials 
he  sends  to  his  children." 

Very  soon  after,  Mrs.  Scaforth's  car- 
riage came  to  the  door,  and  Xellie  bade 
farewell  to  Miss  Langton  and  Mrs.  Roper, 
vrho  had  been  so  kind  to  her,  with  regret ; 
but  she  longed,  nevertheless,  to  be  once 
more  in  her  own  home,  and  was  eager  to 
recount  all  the  doings  of  the  past  two  daj's 
to  her  dear  mother,  as  well  as  to  place  in 
her  hand  the  first  fruits  of  her  own  Libor. 


Years  passed  quickly  on,  and  during  the 
interval  great  changes  had  taken  place  in 
almost  every  direction,  bnt  still  Stronnale 
remained,  in  all  its  main  features,  the 
same  quiet  fishing-viilage  as  of  yore.     Xo 

8* 


132  NELLIE  newton: 

railway  as  yet  peuctrated  into  its  immedi- 
ate neighborhood,  though  each  year  brought 
it  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  lonely  hamlet 
mider  the  cUfF.  Old  and  young  had  been 
added  to  the  number  of  the  silent  dwellers 
in  the  churchyard,  but  others  had  taken 
their  places,  and  the  same  brown  houses 
were,  for  the  most  part,  occupied  by  those 
who  bore  the  same  names,  and  followed 
the  same  handicrafts  as  their  fathers  had 
before  them. 

As  time  crept  on,  it  had  brought  some 
changes  to  the  Newtons,  but  they  could 
still  thank  God  that  death  had  caused  no 
blank  by  their  fireside,  and  that  their  flim- 
ily  circle,  although  it  was  now  seldom  com- 
plete around  it,  was  yet  unbroken.  Nel- 
lie was,  of  course,  her  mother's  constant 
companion,  and  was  very  often  the  only 
one  at  home.  Esther  was  happily  mar- 
ried, and  lived  not  far  off.     Jacob  was  now 


THE  mnrnDAY  gift.  133 

master  of  a  fishing-smack,  and  had  taken 
Bill  on  hoard  to  train  him  also  to  a  sea-far- 
ing life,  rather  to  his  mother's  discontent, 
which,  however,  was  overruled  vrhen  she 
saw  his  evident  fitness  and  liking  for  it. 
jMercy  had  gone  into  ]\Irs.  Eiversdalo's 
service  while  still  quite  3'oung,  and  now 
held  a  position  of  some  responsibility  in 
the  household,  where  she  was  respected 
and  esteemed  by  her  master  and  mistress, 
and  loved  by  their  children. 

Xellie's  work  had  increased  so  rapidly 
after  the  making  of  the  veil,  that  at  length 
it  was  suggested  to  her  that  it  might  be 
useful  to  her  neighbors,  as  well  as  an  ad- 
vantage to  herself,  if  she  established  a 
school  for  lace-making.  Accordingly,  the 
phm  was  carried  out,  and  had  proved  so 
successful,  that  Nellie  was  never  to  be  seen 
in  vrorkins:  hours  otherwise  than  surround- 
cd  by  a  busy  group  of  girls,  whom  she 


134  KrLLir  keiftox. 

first  of  all  taught,  and  afterwards  employed 
in  the  execution  of  her  orders.  Some  of 
these  "were  engaged,  therefore,  in  making 
delicate  sprigs,  others  in  joining  old  frag- 
ments of  lace,  which  looked  like  old  rags, 
until  b}^  careful  skill  they  vrere  so  put  to- 
gether and  fitted  in  with  new  work,  that 
the  whole  became  an  elegant  flounce,  or 
tunic,  or  handkerchief,  such  as  one  can  see 
any  day  in  the  shop  windows  in  London. 
Others,  again,  who  were  only  beginners, 
learned  the  m^^steries  of  "single-stitch," 
*^  no-pin  stitch,"  "  diamond  cut,"  or  "  raised- 
work,"  according  to  their  various  attain- 
ments and  capabilities. 

Nellie  Newton  was  no  longer  in  the  first 
bloom  of  her  j^outh,  but  she  still  found  that 
patience  and  perseverance  in  her  appoint- 
ed work  were  as  needful,  if  not  even  more 
so  than  in  her  younger  days ;  and  it  was, 
perhaps,  this  feature  in  her  character  which 


THE  BIRTHDAY  GIFT.  135 

enabled  her  to  be  so  useful  to  the  young 
people  whom  she  superintended.  Thej  all 
loved  Xellie,  whose  Christian  example  and 
gentle  admonitions  were  not  lost  upon 
them;  and  many  were  able,  in  after  life, 
to  trace  back  their  first  serious  impressions, 
and  their  fii*st  steps  in  a  right  direction,  to 
her  counsels  and  kindly  interest  in  their 
welfare, 

Xellie  might  also  be  found  every  Sunday 
in  the  school,  endeavoring  to  lead  the  little 
ones  there  to  that  Saviour  whom  she  her- 
self knew  to  be  the  only  refuge  from  the 
storms  and  tempests  of  sin  and  trouble. 
In  short,  her  gentle  influence  for  good  was 
a  real  blessing  to  those  about  her  in  the 
villa2:e  where  she  lived.  It  was  her  Gfreat 
aim  to  brius:  relij^ion  into  all  the  minor 
concerns  of  daily  life,  thus  commending  it 
to  all  around  her. 

lYith  one  more  little  incident  in  Xcllio 


136  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

Newton's  quiet  life,  we  must  bring  our 
story  to  a  close,  trusting  that  it  may  not 
entirely  fail  in  its  oljject  of  teaching,  how- 
ever imperfectly,  that  God's  blessing  will 
surely  follow  patient  submission  to  his  holy 
■will,  and  diligent  perseverance  in  our  ap- 
pointed work,  whatever  it  may  be. 

In  the  summer  of  18 — ,  a  few  of  Nellie's 
scholars  discovered  by  chance  that  the  20th 
of  July  was  their  beloved  teacher's  birth- 
day, and  they  resolved,  on  that  occasion, 
to  give  her  some  little  token  of  their  grate- 
ful attachment.  IMiss  Langton  had  inter- 
ested herself  very  much  in  Nellie's  under- 
taking, and  had  never  failed  to  visit  her 
school  when  she  came  into  the  neighbor- 
hood.  To  lier,  therefore,  as  she  was  iu 
Waterton,  they  determined  to  appl}^  — 
begging  the  kind-hearted  lady  to  advise 
them  in  the  choice  of  a  gift,  and  entrusting 
her  with  its  purchase.     The  sum  collected 


THE  BIRTHDAY  GIFT.  137 

amou2:st  them  was  far  from  beiiiG:  a  laro:e 
one,  for  it  bacl.loeen  saved  out  of  hard-won 
earnings ;  but  it  would  be  sufficient,  Miss 
Lan!]:ton  thouirbt,  with  some  little  addition 
from  her  own  purse,  to  buy  a  neat  clock, 
of  which  they  had  often  felt  the  want  in 
their  work-room.  All  were  delighted  with 
the  su2:2:c3tion. 

It  was  arranged  beforehand  that  Xellie 
should  take  a  holiday  on  that  day;  and, 
quite  unconscious  of  any  surprise  in  store 
for  her,  she  determined  to  invite  such  of 
her  scholars  as  liked  to  come,  to  drink  tea 
with  her  mother  and  herself.  The  girls 
were  charmed,  for  this  suited  their  plans 
admiriibly.  It  was  to  be  a  family  gather- 
ing as  well ;  for  Jacob  and  Bill,  now  line 
young  men,  were  able  to  be  at  home  ;  and 
Esther,  with  her  husband  and  children,  had 
promised  to  join  them. 

It  was   as  much  as   they  could  do   to 


138  NELLIE  NEWTON. 

squeeze  into  so  small  a  room,  but  somehow 
or  other  it  was  managed;  and  it  would 
have  been  diiScult  to  find  a  happier  party 
than  the  one  assembled  that  summer  after- 
noon in  Mrs.  Newton's  best  parlor,  enjoy- 
ing the  strawberries  and  cream  which  Miss 
Langton's  kind  forethought  had  provided 
for  them.  The  clock,  their  birthday  gift, 
had  been  secretly  conveyed  earlier  in  the 
day  to  a  neighbor's  cottage,  that  when  Miss 
Langton  made  her  appearance,  as  she  was 
expected  to  do  towards  evening,  it  might 
be  close  at  hand. 

It  had  been  a  pleasant  day  altogether  to 
Nellie  Newton,  and  her  heart  was  filled 
with  deep  but  silent  thankfulness  to  her 
Father  in  heaven,  for  the  many  mercies  he 
bad  bestowed  upon  her.  Her  mother, 
though  getting  on  in  years,  was  yet  hale 
and  hearty,  and  Nellie  felt  happy  in  the 
thought  that  she  was  now  able  by  her  own 


THE  BIRTHDAY   GIFT.  139 

exertions  to  suiTound  her  with  many  com- 
forts, unknown  to  them  in  former  days. 
As  she  looked  round,  too,  on  the  bright 
young  faces  of  the  lace  girls,  lighted  up 
with  eager  expectancy  (for  IMiss  Langton 
surely  would  soon  arrive) ,  she  was  glad  to 
knoAV  that  one  and  all  loved  her,  and  that, 
vrith  God's  help,  her  inuuence  over  them 
might  be  for  good.  The  crutches  were 
novr  no  trial  at  all ;  and  as  she  called  to 
mind  how  different  her  position  might  have 
been,  had  no  accident  befallen  her,  and  she 
had  been  left  to  carry  out  her  cherished 
plan  of  domestic  service,  she  inwardly 
exclaimed.  "Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
and  forsfct  not  all  his  benefits." 

Lookins:  across  the  sea  towards  TTater- 
ton,  as  she  stood  in  the  doorway  chatting 
with  one  of  the  girls,  she  noticed  a  rowing 
boat  making  for  Stronnale  bay.  It  came 
nearer  and  nearer,  and  at  length  the  party 


140  NELLIE  yEfFTOy. 

landed,  and  Nellie  Newton  uttered  an 
exclamation  of  pleasure  as  she  saw  that  it 
was  Miss  Langton  accompanied  by  IMr.  and 
Mrs.  Eiversdale,  who  were  coming  up  from 
the  beach  towards  their  cottage.  Silver 
threads  w^ere  now  visible  here  and  there  in 
[Miss  Langton's  dark  hair  Avhich  w^ere  not 
there  wdien  we  first  became  acquainted  with 
her,  but  the  same  gentle  expression  rested 
on  her  kind  face.  Time  had  dealt  tender- 
ly, too,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eiversdale, 
though,  as  v>^ith  Nellie  herself,  the  flush  of 
youth  had  past  with  each  of  them.  Kindly 
greetings  and  mutual  inquiries  were  ex- 
changed, and  half  an  hour  passed  quickly 
away,  when  one  of  the  3^0 ung  people,  at  a 
sign  from  Miss  Langton,  brought  in  the 
gift,  to  present  which  was  to  be  the  event 
of  the  evening. 

"Well,  Nellie,"  said  Miss  Langton,  un- 
doing the  wrappers,  "it  was  not  altogether 


THE  LimnDAY  GIFT.  141 

on  our  owtI  account  that  \;g  came  across 
the  bay  this  evening,  for  I  must  tell  you 
that  I  have  still  a  duty  to  perform,  and  a 
very  pleasant  one  it  is.  In  the  name  of 
your  scholars  I  have  been  asked  to  present 
you  with  this  birthday  gift,  as  a  token  of 
their  affection,  and  with  every  good  wish 
for  your  welfare ;  and  if  you  have  only 
half  as  much  pleasure  in  accepting  it,  as 
they  have  had  in  making  the  purchase  for 
you,  I  am  sure  they  will  feel  amply  re- 
paid." 

"And,"  continued  Mr.  Ers'ersdale,  "as 
we  thought  it  would  be  more  useful  placed 
in  your  work-room,  w^here  it  seems  that 
time  flies  so  quickly  that  you  are  some- 
times at  loss  to  know  how  it  goes,  we  hope 
you  will  like  the  stand  ]Mrs.  Riversdale  and 
I  have  added  to  make  the  clock  more  com- 
plete." 

Poor  Xe}lie  was  quite  overcome ;   and 


142  NELLIE  KEJVTOy. 

Mrs.  Newton,  who  had  been  as  innocent 
of  any  knowledge  of  the  affair  as  her 
daughter  was,  looked  from  one  to  the 
other  in  perfect  bewilderment.  "  I'm  sure 
I  can  not  thank  you  all  as  I  ought,"  said 
Xellie,  at  last;  "it's  taken  me  so  by  sur- 
prise —  but  I  know  I  shall  value  it  as  long 
as  I  live,  as  a  precious  token  of  your  kind- 
ness." 

"And  now,"  said  Mr.  Riversdale,  think- 
ing it  much  better  to  cut  the  matter  short 
and  spare  Xellie's  feelings,  "what  do  you 
say  to  my  winding  it  up,  and  setting  it 
going ;  for  you'll  all  allow  a  silent  clock 
is  about  as  useless  an  article  as  well  can 
be.  Dear  me,  auntie,"  added  he,  looking 
at  his  watch,  "  do  you  know  that  we  shall 
be  benis^hted  if  we  don't  make  haste  ?  " 

A  few  minutes  later  they  took  their 
leave,  while  Xellie  and  the  girls  eagerly 
gathered  round  the  clock  and  its  pedestal 


THE  niUTHDAT  GIFT.  l-iS 

to  examine  its  quality  and  workmansliip. 
The  case  was  of  walnut  wood,  plain  but 
handsome,  and  not  unsuita])lc  to  the  rest 
of  the  furnitm*e  of  their  work-room  ;  while 
on  a  neat  silver  plate  in  front  was  this  in- 
scription :  — 

TO  ELEA^^OR  XEWTOX, 

FROM  II EP. 

GKATEFUL    AXD   AFFECTIOXATE    SCHOLARS,   THE 
LACE  OniLS  OF  STEOX>'ALE,  JULY  COxn,   IS  — 

Soon  after  the  party  separated  ;  and  the 
Newtons  before  they  retired  to  rest  that 
night,  all  joined  with  heart  and  voice  in 
sinaini?  the  errand  old  Doxoloiry,  — 

"  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow; 
Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below ; 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host ; 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost." 

It  was  long  before  Xcllio  could  sleep, 
for  thoughts  of  the  past  and  good  resolu- 


1-14  KELLTE  NEWTOy, 

tions  for  the  future,  mingled  with  the  pleas- 
ant but  unwonted  "  tick,  tick  "  of  the  birth- 
day gift,  combined  to  make  her  wakeful ; 
but  when  at  last  she  fell  asleep,  it  was  the 
calm,  unbroken  rest  of  one  whose  heart 
was  with  God,  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  whose 
life  was  spent  in  striving  to  do  her  Lord's 
work  patiently  and  humbly  on  earth,  wait- 
ing until  she  heard  her  Master's  summons  : 
"Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant; 
thou  hast  been  faithful  in  a  few  things, 
enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 


THE   END. 


B     000  002  387     9 


I 


